Morocco coach Mohamed Ouahbi monitoring two new players ahead of AFCON qualifiers

Morocco coach Mohamed Ouahbi is set to continue his European tour next week as he steps up preparations for the Atlas Lions’ upcoming 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying matches.

A major part of the coach’s trip will be assessing the fitness of key Morocco internationals, particularly Nayef Aguerd and Abdel Samad Zalzouli, while also monitoring other Moroccan professionals playing in Europe.

Ouahbi wants a clear assessment of his players’ physical condition before finalising the squad for the next round of qualifiers.

Aguerd and Zalzouli fitness a priority

According to information obtained by Al-Ahdath Al-Maghribia, Ouahbi will use the European tour to follow the latest developments in the rehabilitation programmes of Aguerd and Zalzouli.

Both players have recently dealt with fitness concerns, making their condition an important consideration for the Morocco coach ahead of the upcoming international window.

Ouahbi is expected to speak with the players and follow their recovery closely before deciding whether they will be ready to feature in the next two competitive matches.

The coach considers both players important to his plans and wants to establish their physical readiness before naming his final squad.

Coach to assess other Moroccan professionals

Ouahbi’s European trip will not be limited to injury and fitness checks.

The Morocco coach is also expected to watch a number of professionals at their clubs as he assesses their current form and performances.

The tour will therefore provide Ouahbi with an opportunity to build a broader picture of the players available to him before making his selections for the next stage of Morocco’s campaign.

Niger and Zambia await Morocco

The European tour comes as Morocco prepare for their first official assignments in the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.

CAF’s fixture schedule has confirmed that Morocco will begin their campaign at home against Niger on 25 September.

Four days later, the Atlas Lions will travel to Lusaka to face Zambia at the Twita Stadium, with kick-off scheduled for 13:00 local time.

With only a few days separating the two matches, Ouahbi is working against the clock to ensure his squad is physically prepared.

The fitness of Aguerd and Zalzouli will be among the key issues for the coach as he weighs his options before announcing the final Morocco squad.