Othmane Maamma stays with Morocco Under-23s despite senior-team hopes

Othmane Maamma will have to wait for his first Morocco senior call-up after being named in the Under-23 squad for upcoming friendlies against Mali and Tanzania.

The Watford forward had been widely tipped to join Yassir Zabiri in the senior national team after the pair helped Morocco win the FIFA U-20 World Cup. However, Maamma was absent from Mohamed Ouahbi’s first squad since the World Cup, which was announced on Thursday.

The Under-23 selection has now confirmed that the 20-year-old remains part of Jamel Ait Ben Idir’s Olympic squad for the time being.

Maamma has featured in every match for Watford since the start of the season in the Championship, although he is yet to register either a goal or an assist. His continued involvement with the Under-23s does not shut the door on a future senior call-up, but gives him the opportunity to build up further international experience before attempting to make the next step.

His situation contrasts with that of Zabiri, who earned his first senior Morocco selection this week after making an impressive start to the season in Spain.

The two forwards were among the key players in Morocco’s Under-20 World Cup triumph, but Zabiri has moved ahead of his former team-mate in the short term by securing a place in Ouahbi’s senior squad.

Several dual-national players included

The Under-23 squad also includes a number of players with links to other countries.

Amir Bouhamdi, the young PSV Eindhoven winger, has been selected after attracting international interest of his own.

Kays Houdoussi Barry is also included. The Anderlecht defender is the son of legendary Ivory Coast goalkeeper Copa Barry. A former Belgium Under-19 international, he is eligible to represent Cote d’Ivoire and has been named in a Morocco squad for the first time, underlining his growing connection with his mother’s country.

Belgian clubs provide several other players in the selection, including Elyess Dao of Anderlecht, Yassine Khalifi of Charleroi, Reda Laalaoui of Westerlo and Anas Tajaouart of RAAL La Louviere.

The squad also highlights the breadth of Morocco’s overseas talent pool. Players based with Ajax, PSV, Cambuur and Den Bosch in the Netherlands have been selected, alongside representatives from Monza in Italy, Alaves and Elche in Spain, and Guimaraes in Portugal.

For Maamma, the latest decision is a matter of patience. Zabiri has already secured his route into Ouahbi’s senior squad, while his former Under-20 partner must continue to impress before joining him at the highest level.