Mustapha Hadji: Morocco have no striker crisis as Yamal keeps support at home

Mustapha Hadji says Morocco’s attacking options mean they are not facing a shortage of traditional strikers, despite Mohamed Wahbi choosing Ismael Saibari as a false nine during the 2026 World Cup.

Saibari, who previously played for PSV and now represents Bayern Munich, impressed in the role and emerged as one of Morocco’s leading performers at the tournament. Hadji believes the decision reflected Wahbi’s tactical flexibility and his admiration for the style associated with Barcelona.

“We have young attacking options who performed well at the Under-20 World Cup, including Yasser Al-Zabiri, who plays in the Spanish league,” Hadji said in a filmed interview with Kooora due to be published later. “I do not see a crisis in this position for the Morocco national team.”

Saibari is not a conventional centre-forward, but Hadji said that did not prevent him from leading the line in the World Cup.

“It is true that Saibari led the attack at the World Cup despite not being a classic striker, but Mohamed Wahbi can use his players in more than one way and he has been influenced by Barcelona’s style,” he added.

The former Morocco international said Wahbi could continue to use a false nine, drawing comparisons with the systems previously employed by Pep Guardiola at Barcelona and those being used by Hansi Flick.

Hadji also highlighted Saibari’s ability to operate in several attacking positions. The player can be used as a number nine, as a number 10 or on either flank, giving Wahbi multiple ways to structure his forward line.

Morocco are scheduled to face Niger in the Africa Cup of Nations qualifying competition on 13 November 2026.

Hadji backs Yamal despite Spain choice

Hadji also defended Lamine Yamal’s decision to play for Spain rather than Morocco, saying the Barcelona forward remains warmly supported by people in his country of heritage.

Yamal made his Spain debut in September 2023. Hadji said the teenager had gone on to win both the World Cup and the European Championship in the following three years, despite still being only 19.

“Although Yamal represents Spain today, we Moroccans love and support him, and we consider him to be Moroccan by blood,” Hadji said.

“He was young when he made the decision and he plays for Barcelona, the biggest club in the world. He faced pressure, and it would have been difficult for him to reject the chance to play for the Spain senior team at such a young age.”

Hadji acknowledged that Yamal could have made a significant difference had he chosen Morocco, but said the player’s decision was understandable.

“It is true that having Yamal with the Morocco national team would have made a huge difference, but thank God anyway,” he added. “Today, 40 million Moroccans support him with Spain.”