Morocco coach Walid Regragui has identified a new backup goalkeeper to join the national team’s camp for the first time in June, following the absence of Yassine Bounou from Al-Hilal and Mehdi Benabid from Wydad.
Regragui is considering not including Bounou and Benabid due to their commitments with their clubs in America, where they are preparing for the Club World Cup.
The Atlas Lions are scheduled to play friendly matches on June 7 and 10 against Benin and Tunisia, respectively.
However, Regragui does not plan to include Bounou and Benabid in the national team’s camp to avoid exhausting them with long travel to America, where the Club World Cup will kick off on June 15.
Regragui aims to include Hamza Hamiani, who has been impressive with FAR Rabat in the league and recently in the CAF Champions League, as well as Salah El-Din Shehab from Fes, to join Munir Mohamedi, the goalkeeper from Berkane, who will replace Bounou as the starting keeper for Morocco’s matches.
The friendly matches against Tunisia and Benin are part of Morocco’s preparations for the Africa Cup of Nations, which will be held in Morocco later this year.
These games provide an opportunity for Regragui to assess his squad and make necessary adjustments ahead of the continental tournament.
The match against Tunisia is scheduled for June 7, followed by the Benin encounter on June 10.
Both matches will be held at Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat, offering a chance for the Atlas Lions to fine-tune their strategies and build momentum ahead of the upcoming AFCON tournament.
