AFCON 2017: Morocco Eyes Dual Nationals as Zaki Strengthens Squad
After winning their appeal at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) and overturning the suspension imposed by CAF, Morocco is now fully focused on qualifying for the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations in Gabon — and they are wasting no time in strengthening their squad.
Head coach Badou Zaki is leading efforts to bolster the Atlas Lions’ options ahead of the start of the qualification campaign. Determined not to miss another edition of Africa’s premier football competition, Zaki is currently touring Europe in a bid to recruit dual-national players who have been hesitant to commit to Morocco in the past.
Top of his list is Sofiane Boufal, the highly rated Lille playmaker. Boufal has previously turned down a call-up to Morocco’s Olympic team, raising questions about his international future. However, with a senior team place on offer and the 2017 AFCON campaign on the horizon, Zaki hopes to change the 21-year-old’s mind.
Also on the radar are Ajax winger Anwar El Ghazi and Nantes forward Yacine Bammou — both of whom have Moroccan heritage but remain eligible to represent other nations. Zaki is expected to hold talks with their families and representatives during his scouting trip.
The coach’s mission reflects a broader strategy by the Royal Moroccan Football Federation to tap into the pool of European-based talent with Moroccan roots, many of whom have emerged through youth academies in France, the Netherlands, and Belgium.
Following a turbulent period marked by Morocco’s withdrawal from hosting the 2015 tournament due to Ebola concerns — a decision that initially led to a ban from future editions — the Lions are eager to reassert themselves on the continental stage.
With qualification for Gabon 2017 now back on the table, Zaki and his staff are leaving nothing to chance.