Morocco coach Mohamed Ouahbi begins European tour ahead of squad announcement

Morocco national team head coach Mohamed Ouahbi is preparing to embark on a tour of several European countries during the first week of September as he steps up preparations for the Atlas Lions’ upcoming Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.

The tour comes ahead of the announcement of the final squad for Morocco’s next two qualifying matches against Gabon and Lesotho, with Wahbi keen to gather first-hand information on the condition and form of his players before making his selection.

During the European trip, the national team coach is expected to hold direct meetings with several Moroccan internationals and closely follow players who have recently changed clubs during the transfer window.

Wahbi will also use the tour to check on players who have recently suffered injuries and assess their physical condition and readiness to return to international duty.

The coach is particularly interested in having a clear picture of the players’ fitness and competitive rhythm before finalising his squad. His meetings will also provide an opportunity to discuss the players’ roles at their respective clubs and assess their technical development.

The tour is expected to include several promising young talents who have caught the attention of the Moroccan technical staff following their performances at the start of the new season.

Among the players expected to feature on Ouahbi’s itinerary are Ajax youngster Abdellah Ouazzane and Schalke 04 talent Sofiane Faouzi, who are both being closely monitored by the national team setup.

Ouahbi is also expected to use part of his trip to check on the fitness of established members of the Atlas Lions, including Nayef Aguerd and Abdel Samad Ezzalzouli.

Both players remain important figures for Morocco, making their physical condition a key consideration ahead of the upcoming qualifiers.

The European tour underlines Ouahbi’s determination to make informed decisions before announcing his squad. Rather than relying solely on reports from clubs, the coach wants to personally assess the situation of several players as the deadline for the squad announcement approaches.

Morocco are preparing to begin their qualification campaign for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations, which will be hosted jointly by Uganda, Tanzania and Kenya.

According to the schedule announced by the Confederation of African Football (CAF), the Atlas Lions will open their qualifying campaign against Gabon on September 25.

The match is scheduled for 7:00 PM GMT at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat, with South African referee Abagnale Tom appointed to officiate the encounter.

Morocco will then travel to face Lesotho in their second qualifying fixture on September 29. The match will be played at 1:00 PM GMT at the Toyota Stadium in Bloemfontein, South Africa, with referee Kawasaki set to take charge.

With the two matches approaching, Wahbi’s European tour will be crucial in helping him determine which players are in the best condition to represent Morocco.

The national team’s final squad announcement is expected to follow the tour, with competition for places likely to be strong as both established internationals and emerging talents seek a place in the Atlas Lions’ squad.