Between returns and confirmations, Morocco will present itself with almost all of its executives for the 5th and 6th days of the CAN 2025 qualifiers. However, certain absences from the list of 26 players unveiled on Thursday do not go unnoticed.
To face Gabon and Lesotho, respectively on November 15 and 18, as part of the CAN 2025 qualifiers, Walid Regragui unveiled a list of 26 players this Thursday. The Atlas Lions, automatically qualified as hosts of the competition, play these meetings as friendly matches.
However, they do not take them lightly. Leaders of Group B, they are one of the five teams to have won all their matches in these qualifiers, with Egypt, Algeria, Angola, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
One of the challenges of the next international break for Walid Regragui will therefore be to maintain a perfect record in these qualifiers. To do this, we will have to start by carefully negotiating the trip to Gabon on November 15, after having comfortably beaten the Panthers last September in Agadir. The Lions will then end their qualifying campaign in front of their home crowd, in Oujda, three days later against a team from Lesotho, bottom with only one point collected.
If Morocco had difficulty winning in the first leg (1-0), playing at home should give the team some extra spirit. We will nevertheless have to remain vigilant against a team which is still chasing its first success in these qualifiers.
Executives at the meeting
There were very few surprises in the list unveiled Thursday by the national coach. Most of the team’s usual executives appear there, starting with captain Achraf Hakimi, essential pillar of PSG, leader of the French championship. We also note the return to defense of Noussair Mazraoui, who had heart surgery in October.
Another return from injury, that of Real Madrid midfielder Brahim Diaz, injured in the adductors at the beginning of September, and absent from the last rally. Walid Regragui also renewed his confidence in Azzedine Ounahi, Bilal El Khanous, Soufiane Rahimi, and other Abdessamad Ezzalzouli, Ayoub El Kaabi, and Youssef En-Nesyri for offensive animation.
Massina the returning, Ziyech and Harit absent subscribers
Very few surprises therefore, but a few names that attract attention. Among them, that of Adam Massina, back in the selection for the first time since June 2022. Tenth in Serie A with Torino, and regularly summoned by Vahid Halilhodic, he makes his first appearance in a list of Walid Regragui.
The experience of the 30-year-old player offers the coach an interesting option to support Nayef Aguerd in a hinge now orphaned by Romain Saïss. Among those absent, as for previous gatherings, Amine Harit will be missing. “He could deserve it, but I have my vision: I have two players with great potential like Saibari and El Khannouss. The day I need Harit is for him to play. I don’t think he’s a player who accepts replacement status,” Regragui explained last month.
The Olympique de Marseille resident, author of 2 goals and 3 assists in Ligue 1 this season, will therefore still have to wait. The 27-year-old midfielder’s last match with the Lions jersey dates back to November 2023. Hakim Ziyech will also have to wait to make his return. The former Chelsea player, one of the pillars of the selection which shone during the 2022 World Cup, is struggling to regain his former glory under the colors of Galatasaray, current leader of the Turkish championship, but with whom he has only played two matches including only one as a starter, after 11 days.
The 26 of Regragui
Goalkeepers: Yassine Bounou (Al Hilal/Saudi Arabia), Mounir El Kajoui (Renaissance Berkane), Salaheddine Chihab (Maghreb Fez), Ayoub El Khayati (AS FAR)
Defenders: Achraf Hakimi (Paris Saint-Germain/France), Noussair Mazraoui (Manchester United/England), Abdelkabir Abkar (Alaves/Spain), Jamal Harkas (Wydad Casablanca), Nayef Aguerd (Real Sociedad/Spain), Adam Massina (Torino /Italy), Adam Aznou (Bayern Munich/Germany), Yahya Attiyat-Allah (Al Ahly/Egypt)
Midfielders: Sofiane Amrabat (Fenerbahçe/Turkey), Amir Richardson (Fiorentina/Italy), Eliesse Ben Seghir (Monaco/France), Oussama Targhaline (Le Havre/France), Azzeddine Ounahi (Panathinaïkos/Greece), Bilal El Khanous ( Leicester City/England), Ismael Saibari (PSV Eindhoven/Pays-bas).
Forwards: Ilyas Akhomach (Villarreal/Spain), Brahim Diaz (Real Madrid/Spain), Soufiane Rahimi (Al Aïn/United Arab Emirates), Ayoub El Kaabi (Olympiakos/Greece), Youssef En-Nesyri (Fenerbahçe/Turkey), Osame Sahraoui (Lille/France), Abdessamad Ezzalzouli (Betis/Spain).
Sami Nemli / ECO Inspirations
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