Morocco replace injured Nayel El Aynaoui with Strasbourg midfielder Samir El Mourabet

Morocco midfielder Nayel El Aynaoui will miss both of the team’s Africa Cup of Nations 2027 qualifying matches against Niger after suffering an ankle injury.

The Royal Moroccan Football Federation said on Wednesday that El Aynaoui arrived at the training camp with discomfort in his ankle and underwent an in-depth medical assessment and further tests on Tuesday.

The results showed that the midfielder would not be able to play the next two matches in ideal physical condition. Following discussions with the player and his club, Morocco’s medical and coaching staff agreed that he should leave the camp to continue his treatment and recovery programme.

Coach Mohamed Ouahbi has called up Strasbourg midfielder Samir El Mourabet as his replacement. It is the first change to Morocco’s squad before the two fixtures.

Morocco trained at the Mohammed VI Football Complex on Wednesday, with the morning session starting at 11:30 local time. The session focused on physical, technical and tactical work, with a second workout scheduled for 18:00.

The team will train again on Thursday at the Mohammed V Sports Complex in Casablanca from 18:00. The opening 15 minutes will be available to media representatives from 17:45.

Morocco sit top of Group A in the Africa Cup of Nations 2027 qualifiers with six points from two wins: a 2-0 victory over Gabon in the opening round and another 2-0 success against Lesotho in the second round. Niger are third with three points.

Ouahbi originally named a 26-player squad for the third- and fourth-round qualifiers, which will be played on 13 and 17 November 2026. The selection included several returning players, as well as Alkmaar winger Ayoub Oufkir.

The revised Morocco squad is:

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

Defenders: Noussair Mazraoui, Anass Salah-Eddine, Soufiane El Karouani, Nayef Aguerd, Redouane Halhal, Issa Diop, Abdelhamid Ait Boudlal, Achraf Hakimi, Ali Maamari.

Midfielders: Ayoub Bouaddi, Samir El Mourabet, Oussama Targhalline, Bilal El Khannouss, Reda Belahyane, Amine Sabai, Abdellah Ouazane.

Forwards: Brahim Diaz, Jassim Yassine, Abdessamad Ezzalzouli, Ayoub Oufkir, Yasser Zabiri, Youssef En-Nesyri.