AFCON 2027 Qualifiers: Mohamed Ouahbi announces Morocco squad for Niger double-header as En-Nesyri returns

Morocco head coach Mohamed Ouahbi has announced his 26-man squad for the upcoming 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers against Niger, with several key players returning to the fold.

The squad was unveiled on Wednesday at a press conference held at the Mohammed VI Football Complex in Salé ahead of the Atlas Lions’ November training camp.

Morocco will face Niger in a double-header on November 13 and 17 as they continue their Group A qualifying campaign.

Young talents Ayyoub Bouaddi, Abdellah Ouazane, Yassir Zabiri and Yassine Gessime have all been included in the squad, alongside Ayoub Oufkir and Amine Sbai.

Experienced campaigners Achraf Hakimi, Yassine Bounou, Nayef Aguerd and Brahim Diaz also retain their places as Ouahbi seeks to maintain Morocco’s impressive start to the qualifiers.

One of the notable inclusions is striker Youssef En-Nesyri, who returns to the national team after missing Ouahbi’s previous selections.

The forward has earned a recall following a productive spell with Saudi Arabian club Al Ittihad, with his return providing an additional attacking option amid injury concerns affecting Morocco’s forward line.

Morocco’s full squad for November

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

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

Midfielders: Ayyoub Bouaddi, Neil El Aynaoui, Oussama Targhalline, Bilal El Khannouss, Reda Belahyane, Amine Sbai, Abdellah Ouazane.

Forwards: Brahim Diaz, Yassine Gessime, Abdesamad Ezzalzouli, Ayoub Oufkir, Yassir Zabiri, Youssef En-Nesyri.

The Atlas Lions head into the November international window sitting top of Group A after winning their opening two matches.

Morocco began their campaign with a 2-0 victory over Gabon in Rabat before recording another 2-0 win against Lesotho in September.

According to the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF), the first meeting with Niger will take place at the Mohammed V Stadium in Casablanca on November 13.

The two sides will then meet again on November 17 at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat.

Both matches are scheduled to kick off at 20:00 local time and form part of the third and fourth rounds of the 2027 AFCON qualifying campaign.