Morocco Coach Badou Zaki Announces Squad for Russia Friendly Ahead of AFCON 2015
Morocco’s national team coach Badou Zaki has named a reduced squad for the upcoming friendly against Russia, as part of the team’s preparations for the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations. The announcement comes after the conclusion of the Portugal training camp, with five players missing from the lineup due to various reasons.
Among the absentees are key players Mehdi Benatia, Mohamed Amsif, Abdelaziz Barrada, Abderrahim Achchakir, and Zakaria Bergdich. Their absence has been felt, but the return of midfielder Omar El Kaddouri offers a boost for the Atlas Lions ahead of the crucial test match.
Zaki’s final squad combines a mix of domestic league stars and players from European clubs, reflecting Morocco’s ongoing efforts to build a competitive and balanced team for the continental tournament.
Goalkeepers:
The squad includes three goalkeepers, featuring Khalid Askri from Raja Casablanca, Karim Fegrouch currently playing for AEL Limassol in Cyprus, and Anas Zniti of AS FAR.
Defenders:
The defensive line-up brings together experienced defenders from various leagues. Manuel Da Costa of Sivasspor in Turkey and Zouhair Feddal from Italy’s AC Siena are joined by Abdelhamid El Kaoutari, who plays for Montpellier Hérault in France. The list is further strengthened by Mohamed Oulhaj and Zakaria El Hachimi of Raja Casablanca, Mohamed Abarhoun from Moghreb Tétouan, Ayoub El Khaliqi from Wydad Casablanca, and Achraf Lazaar of Palermo in Italy. Issam El Adoua from Spain’s Levante also makes the squad.
Midfielders:
The midfield boasts a blend of creativity and experience. Jamel Ait Ben Idir from AJ Auxerre in France and Mounir Obbadi from AS Monaco feature prominently. Other midfielders include Mohamed Berrabeh (Wydad Casablanca), Issam Erraki (Raja Casablanca), Mehdi Carcela (Standard de Liège in Belgium), M’Bark Boussoufa (Lokomotiv Moscow), and the returning Omar El Kaddouri from Torino in Italy. Younès Belhanda, who plays for Dynamo Kyiv in Ukraine, and Mohsine Moutaouali of Raja Casablanca complete the midfield roster.
Forwards:
Up front, the attack line includes Aatif Chahchouhe from Sivasspor, Abderrazak Hamed-Allah currently with Guangzhou R&F in China, Youssef El Arabi of Spain’s Granada, and Mouhssine Iajour from Raja Casablanca.
This carefully selected squad will face Russia in a friendly match designed to test the team’s readiness ahead of the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations. The encounter offers an important opportunity for coach Badou Zaki to evaluate his players in a competitive setting and fine-tune strategies.
As Morocco aims to make a strong impact at AFCON, the friendly against Russia is a key step in their build-up, with expectations high for a team blending youth and experience.
