Morocco name surprise squad for AFCON qualifiers against Gabon and Lesotho

Morocco head coach Mohamed Ouahbi has announced his squad for the opening two matches of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign, as well as a friendly against Ghana. Yasser Zabiri, Abdellah Ouazane, goalkeeper Alaa Bellarouch, Soufiane El Fouzzi and Tawfik Bentayeb are among the first-time call-ups.

Zabiri has earned recognition after scoring six goals in six appearances for Racing Santander in the Spanish league. Ouazane and Bellarouch are also included in a squad featuring several new faces in the senior national team.

The list retains a number of Morocco’s established players, including goalkeepers Yassine Bounou and Munir El Kajoui, defender Nayef Aguerd and forward Abdessamad Ezzalzouli. Ezzalzouli’s selection comes despite the recent controversy surrounding his involvement with a Ceuta support shirt and the criticism that followed.

Morocco begin their qualifying campaign at home to Gabon on Friday, 25 September, at Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat. They then travel to face Lesotho on Tuesday, 29 September, with the match taking place in Bloemfontein, South Africa.

Ouahbi’s side will also play Ghana in a friendly in Tangier on 4 October.

The full Morocco squad is:

Goalkeepers: Yassine Bounou, Munir El Kajoui, Reda Tagnaouti, Alaa Bellarouch.

Defenders: Noussair Mazraoui, Anass Salah-Eddine, Marouane Saadane, Redouane Halhal, Nayef Aguerd, Issa Diop, Achraf Hakimi, Abdelhamid Ait Boudlal, Zakaria El Ouahdi, Ali Maamar.

Midfielders: Samir El Mourabit, Ayoub Bouaddi, Neil El Aynaoui, Oussama Targhalline, Soufiane El Fouzzi, Azzedine Ounahi, Bilal El Khannouss, Ismael Saibari.

Forwards: Brahim Diaz, Yassine Gassim, Abdessamad Ezzalzouli, Abdellah Ouazane, Soufiane Rahimi, Tawfik Bentayeb, Yasser Zabiri.