The 23-year-old, who had been called up for matches against Gabon on Friday and Lesotho on Monday, left the Atlas Lions’ camp on Wednesday.
According to Moroccan media, including Le 360, head coach Walid Regragui granted the player permission to return to Lille as a precautionary measure.
Fitness Concerns Prompt Exit
Sahraoui, a former Norway youth international, made his senior debut for Morocco last month, playing 22 minutes in a commanding 4-0 win over the Central African Republic.
The appearance marked his first cap since switching allegiance to the North African nation. However, his second appearance will have to wait until 2025 due to the reported fatigue concerns.
Despite this setback, Morocco’s attacking options remain robust, with players like Eliesse Ben Seghir, Ez Abde, Soufiane Rahimi, and Zakaria Aboukhlal available for selection. Aboukhlal was called up to replace Ilias Akhomach, who is also unavailable for these fixtures.
Preparations for Major Competitions
The Atlas Lions, already qualified for AFCON 2025 as the host nation, are using the qualifiers to fine-tune their tactics and build squad cohesion.
Regragui’s side leads Group B with 12 points, having secured their place ahead of Gabon, Central African Republic, and Lesotho.
With Sahraoui absent, Morocco will rely on its depth to maintain momentum in these final qualifiers.
The team aims to prepare for two major challenges: the resumption of 2026 World Cup qualifiers in March and hosting the prestigious AFCON tournament in 2025.
A Promising Talent
Sahraoui’s withdrawal is a temporary setback in what has been a promising start to his international career with Morocco.
Known for his creativity and versatility on the wing, the Lille player is expected to be a key figure for the Atlas Lions in the years ahead.
For now, his focus will return to club football, where he has been an important player for Lille in Ligue 1.
Morocco, meanwhile, remains well-equipped to finish their AFCON qualifiers strongly, starting with Friday’s clash against Gabon.
🚨EXCLU🚨
📌Osame Sahraoui a quitté le rassemblement des Lions de l’Atlas. Il a ressenti une légère fatigue pendant les séances d’entraînement.
📌Walid Regragui lui a permis de se retirer du groupe et de rejoindre son club Lille. pic.twitter.com/GCfLtknKFW
— Anas Zabari (@anaszabarii) November 14, 2024
