Morocco have named their squad for September’s Africa Cup of Nations qualifying window, with Mohamed Ouahbi handing first senior call-ups to Alaa Bellaarouch and 17-year-old Abdellah Ouazane while leaving Sofyan Amrabat out of the group.
The Ligue 1 news
Ouahbi’s squad will face Gabon on 25 September at 21:00 before taking on Lesotho four days later, with the second match scheduled for 15:00. Both fixtures form part of qualification for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations, to be staged in Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania from 19 June to 18 July.
The selection includes Yassir Zabiri, who has started the season in sharp form with six goals from six appearances. Goalkeeper Bellaarouch and Ouazane, still only 17, have received their first invitations to the senior national team.
There is no place for Younes Ebnoutalib. The player, who had previously been included in Morocco pre-selections and was also wanted by Japan, has chosen to represent Germany instead.
Amrabat is another major absentee. The midfielder has been involved in a dispute with Ouahbi and had said he would not make himself available while the current coach remained in charge.
Several other players were omitted from the squad, including Chemsdine Talbi, Eliesse Ben Seghir, Amine Adli, Amir Richardson, Amine Sbaï and Souffian El Karouani.
Injuries have also reduced Ouahbi’s options. Ayoub El Kaabi, Chadi Riad, Youssef Belammari, Youssef En-Nesyri and Hamza Igamane are all unavailable for this international break.
The next appointment in France
Morocco’s immediate focus is the Gabon match on 25 September, before the qualifying trip against Lesotho on 29 September. The window gives Ouahbi an early chance to test new senior faces while navigating absences across his attacking and midfield options.
