Morocco coach Mohamed Ouahbi considers midfield options after Sofyan Amrabat absence

Morocco coach Mohamed Ouahbi has several options to reshape his midfield following Sofyan Amrabat’s decision not to represent the Atlas Lions while the current coach remains in charge.

Amrabat announced his position in a lengthy message on his official Instagram account, saying he would not wear the Morocco shirt as long as Ouahbi is the technical director.

The decision leaves Ouahbi with a major midfield selection issue, given Amrabat’s importance to the Moroccan national team and his role in the centre of the pitch.

Three young midfielders emerge as options

According to Moroccan website Sport7, Ouahbi could turn to three young players as potential replacements for the experienced Amrabat.

The report names Sofiane Faouzi of German club Schalke, Yassine Khelifi of Belgian side Charleroi and Yassine Jassim of French club Strasbourg as players who could be given an opportunity.

Sport7 believes the trio could provide Ouahbi with fresh options as he looks for a midfield combination capable of filling the role previously occupied by Amrabat.

Their possible involvement would also give the Morocco coach an opportunity to introduce younger players into a midfield already regarded as one of the strongest areas of the Atlas Lions squad.

Imran Louza could offer experienced alternative

Ouahbi’s choices are not restricted to the three younger midfielders, with Imran Louza also remaining a potential option.

The midfielder could return to the Morocco squad after a lengthy absence and would offer the coaching staff previous international experience in the position.

Louza’s ability to operate in midfield could make him an alternative to the younger players as Ouahbi considers how best to compensate for Amrabat’s absence.

El Aynaoui and Bouadi remain key figures

Nael El Aynaoui and Ayoub Bouadi are also expected to retain important roles in the Moroccan midfield.

Both players have been producing strong performances for their clubs and the national team, strengthening their claims for continued involvement.

Sport7 reports that the pair’s presence in defensive midfield appears secure, meaning the main competition will centre on the players Ouahbi selects to fill the remaining positions.

With Amrabat currently unavailable to the Morocco setup, Ouahbi therefore has several routes to consider, from promoting young midfielders to recalling Louza while maintaining El Aynaoui and Bouadi as key members of the team.