Morocco head coach Walid Regragui faces a significant selection headache ahead of the highly anticipated semi-final clash against Nigeria at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, with three key players walking a disciplinary tightrope.
Bilal El Khannous, Ismael El Saibari and Soufiane Rahimi are all one booking away from missing the final should the Atlas Lions progress.
The trio picked up yellow cards during Morocco’s quarter-final victory over Cameroon, meaning any further caution in the semi-final against Nigeria would automatically rule them out of the final if Regragui’s side advances.
This situation has heightened concerns within the Moroccan technical team, especially given the intensity and importance of the encounter against the Super Eagles.
Regragui is well aware of how crucial the three players are to his system. El Khannous plays a vital role in midfield with his pace and ball-winning ability, while Saibari remains one of Morocco’s most dangerous attacking outlets and was named Man of the Match against Cameroon.
The three players must avoid a booking on Wednesday when Morocco takes on Nigeria in the semi-final to have the chance of playing in the final in case the Atlas Lions overcome the Super Eagles.
