Amrabat challenges Ouahbi’s explanation for Morocco withdrawal

Sofyan Amrabat has disputed Mohamed Ouahbi’s explanation for his decision to step back from the Morocco national team, while denying that he has fallen out with the coach.

The 30-year-old midfielder, who has won 78 caps, was left out of Ouahbi’s latest squad announcement on Thursday. He had previously said he would no longer play for Morocco while Ouahbi remained in charge.

Amrabat’s decision followed a change in his role within the team. He was no longer first choice and had become the understudy to 18-year-old Ayyoub Bouaddi, who has eight international appearances.

Amrabat made only one start at the 2026 World Cup and had initially signalled his frustration through his brother before making his position public.

Ouahbi rejected the suggestion that there was a personal dispute between the two men. Instead, he said Amrabat’s withdrawal was linked to the midfielder’s altered status in the squad.

The coach acknowledged that it was “not easy” to “lose the leading role” to “the young players who are arriving”. However, he added: “The past deserves respect, but it must never confer privileges.”

In an interview with ESPN, Amrabat appeared surprised by that explanation and argued that his decision was not connected to a lack of playing time.

His comments have increased speculation that there may be a disagreement with Ouahbi. Amrabat, however, also dismissed that possibility, just as the coach had done the previous day.

He was also keen to praise Bouaddi, who is regarded as the future of Morocco’s midfield.

Amrabat’s account therefore contradicts Ouahbi’s public explanation while stopping short of confirming any dispute between them. The midfielder has challenged the reason given for his withdrawal, but has insisted that no personal difference exists with the now former Morocco coach.

The conflicting accounts leave the circumstances of Amrabat’s decision unclear, with neither man offering a detailed explanation of what prompted the player to step away from the national team.