Walid Regragui, the coach of Morocco’s national football team, has revealed the list of 27 players selected to compete in the upcoming 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Zambia and Congo. The squad announcement comes ahead of crucial fixtures scheduled for June 7 in Agadir and June 11 in Kinshasa.
One of the notable inclusions in the squad is the return of experienced central defender Romain Saiss, who was omitted from the previous selection in March.
Saiss, boasting 82 caps and 3 goals for his country, is set to bolster the defensive line following his consistent performances for Al-Shabab in Saudi Arabia.
Also making a comeback to the national team setup are midfielder Ismael Saibari and right-back Noussair Mazraoui, who missed out on selection in the previous round due to injury.
Their return underscores Regragui’s intention to field a competitive and well-balanced side for the upcoming qualifiers.
However, the squad announcement also sees the omission of attacking midfielder Selim Amallah from Valencia and Amine Harit from Olympique de Marseille.
Both players have struggled for form at club level this season, contributing minimally in terms of goals and impact on the field.
Meanwhile, the absence of Sofiane Boufal, despite his recent return to action, raises eyebrows, indicating the coach’s preference for other options in midfield.
Additionally, young midfielder Oussama Targhalline earns his maiden call-up to the national team, reflecting Regragui’s willingness to integrate promising talents into the squad.
Despite the absence of some key players, including Khalil Fayad and Ez Abde, Morocco remains optimistic about its prospects in the World Cup qualifiers.
The team aims to build on its recent victory against Tanzania and secure positive results against Zambia and Congo to solidify its position as the frontrunner in Group E.
As the Atlas Lions prepare for the challenges ahead, they are determined to capitalize on home advantage and the talent at their disposal to navigate through the qualifiers successfully.
With a blend of experience and emerging talent, Morocco seeks to maintain its status as a force to be reckoned with in African football.
لائحة المنتخب الوطني المستدعاة لمباراتي زامبيا 🇿🇲 و جمهورية الكونغو 🇨🇬
🚨 Our National Team’s squad list for the next matches against Zambia & Republic of Congo pic.twitter.com/Ndrj8oQOdf— Équipe du Maroc (@EnMaroc) May 28, 2024
