Morocco national team coach Walid Regragui has named Al Ahly defender Achraf Dari in the Atlas Lions’ expanded 43-man provisional squad ahead of their June international friendlies.
The squad, which is expected to be reduced to 27 players, will contest two matches against Benin and Tunisia on June 7 and 10, respectively.
Dari’s inclusion comes as Morocco’s coaching staff contends with mounting concerns in the defensive unit.
Key centre-back Nayef Aguerd has been out of action for an extended period due to injury, while veteran defender Romain Saïss is currently recovering from surgery and remains unavailable for selection.
Regragui has turned to Dari as a dependable alternative with international experience.
Dari, who began his career at Wydad Casablanca, was first called up to the national team under Regragui during his successful spell with the Moroccan club, where he helped Wydad win both the CAF Champions League and the domestic league title.
The 25-year-old defender then moved abroad, playing in France’s Ligue 1 and Belgium’s Pro League, before joining Egyptian side Al Ahly.
Sources from Kooora report that Regragui has closely followed Dari’s performances with Al Ahly in this season’s CAF Champions League and has been impressed by his consistency and composure at the back.
With experience in high-stakes competitions like the Africa Cup of Nations and the FIFA World Cup, Dari is seen as a player capable of filling the void left by Morocco’s injured regulars.
The June friendlies are part of Morocco’s broader preparations for upcoming competitive fixtures, including the resumption of the World Cup qualifiers.
Whether Dari makes the final 27-man squad remains to be seen.
