As announced earlier today, tensions between Mehdi Benatia and Hassan Benabicha have escalated, resulting in Benatia’s exclusion from the Moroccan national team squad for the friendly against Gabon on March 5. The list of 23 players for the upcoming match was released on Monday, and notably absent is the captain of the Atlas Lions, Mehdi Benatia.
On the other hand, Adel Taarabt, who has been in impressive form for AC Milan, has been included in the squad, alongside Marouane Chamakh, who is expected to make his return to the national team after an extended absence.
Two new faces in the squad are scorers Chahechouche from Sivasspor and Alioui from Guingamp. The initial list of 25 players, revealed around ten days ago, has been trimmed down.
The complete squad list is as follows:
Goalkeepers: Bounou, ElYoussfi, El Ahmadi
Defenders: Nahiri, Mouffadal, Abarhoun, El Kaoutari, Feddal, Jbira
Midfielders: Adoua, Chafni, Obbadi, El Asbahi, Amrabat, Taarabt, El Zhar, Barrada, El Kaddouri
Forwards: El Arabi, Chamakh, Chahechouche, Alioui, Annafati
This selection reflects the ongoing tensions within the team and the decisions made by the coaching staff regarding player inclusion.
