Morocco coach Mohamed Ouahbi announced a 29-man squad on Thursday, September 17, for the Atlas Lions’ upcoming Africa Cup of Nations 2027 qualifiers against Gabon and Lesotho, as well as a friendly against Ghana.
After reaching the quarterfinals of the 2026 World Cup, the Atlas Lions are returning to competitive action with the opening two rounds of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers. Ouahbi unveiled his squad at the Mohammed VI Football Complex in Maâmora ahead of the new international camp.
The national team coach has made several changes to his squad, bringing in players who have impressed since the start of the season while leaving out some established names because of limited playing time or injury.
Among the new faces are Yassir Zabiri, who has scored six goals in six games for Racing Santander, Abdellah Ouazane, an attacking midfielder at Ajax Amsterdam, Schalke 04 midfielder Soufiane El-Faouzi and Tawfik Bentayeb, who recently opened his scoring account with Anderlecht.
Achraf Hakimi and Ismael Saibari are also part of the squad. Hakimi is suspended for two matches, while Saibari will serve a one-match suspension following the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final.
Morocco will begin its qualifying campaign against Gabon on Friday, September 25, at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat.
The Atlas Lions will then travel to Bloemfontein, South Africa, to face Lesotho on Tuesday, September 29, before playing a third match, this time a friendly against Ghana, on October 4 in Tangier.
Mohamed Ouahbi’s 29-man Morocco squad
Goalkeepers: Yassine Bounou, Munir El Kajoui, Ahmed Reda Tagnaouti, Alaa Bellaarouch.
Defenders: Noussair Mazraoui, Anass Salah-Eddine, Marwane Saadane, Nayef Aguerd, Redouane Halhal, Issa Diop, Abdelhamid Ait Boudlal, Achraf Hakimi, Zakaria El Ouahdi, Ali Maamar.
Midfielders: Samir El Mourabet, Ayyoub Bouaddi, Neil El Aynaoui, Oussama Targhalline, Bilal El Khannouss, Soufiane El-Faouzi, Azzedine Ounahi, Ismael Saibari.
Forwards: Brahim Diaz, Yassine Gessime, Abdessamad Ezzalzouli, Abdellah Ouazane, Soufiane Rahimi, Tawfik Bentayeb, Yassir Zabiri.
