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Rabat – The head coach of the Moroccan national football team Walid Regragui revealed on Thursday the list of players selected for the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying matches.
The Atlas Lions are set to face Gabon and Lesotho at Agadir Grand Stadium on September 6 and 9. These matches are part of the qualifiers for the AFCON finals, which will take place in Morocco from December 21, 2025, to January 18, 2026.
The Atlas Lions’ squad list includes goalkeepers, Yassine Bounou, Munir El Kajoui, and Mehdi Benabid
For the team’s line of defense, the coach called up Achraf Hakimi, Nayef Aguerd, Noussair Mazraoui, Abdelkabir Abqar, Younes Abdelhamid, Achraf Dari, Mohamed Chibi, Zakaria El Ouahdi, and Adam Aznou.
He also called up midfielders, Sofyan Amrabat, Bilal El Khannouss, Brahim Diaz, Ismael Saibari, Oussama Targhalline, Amir Richardson Azzedine Ounahi
Meanwhile, the team’s forwards include Hakim Ziyech, Ilias Akhomach, Ayoub El Kaabi, Youssef En-Nesyri, Soufiane Rahimi, Amine Adli, Elias Ben Seghir, and Abdessamad Ezzalzouli.
During the press conference held today, Regragui addressed his decision to call up Nayef Aguerd and Azzedine Ounahi despite both players’ current struggles for playing time at their respective clubs.
Read also: AFCON 2025 Qualifiers: Morocco Drawn in Group B
The upcoming matches against Gabon and Lesotho are crucial for Morocco’s qualification campaign, and Regragui emphasized the importance of retaining trust in the two players.
Regragui highlighted Ounahi’s unique playing style and his commitment to the national team, noting that the midfielder’s participation in the upcoming matches will be determined after his return. He also praised Aguerd, who plays as a defender for West Ham United, as one of the best players in Morocco’s defense.
When questioned about the challenges Aguerd and Ounahi are currently experiencing, Regragui explained: “Both players are going through tough times, but they are outstanding talents. We have strong relationships with their clubs, and they are playing at top European teams. We hope their issues will be resolved soon.”
The coach also pointed out that both players had turned down offers from other leagues, prioritizing maintaining their competitive edge in Europe. “As their coach, it was essential for me to show them my full support and confidence,” Regragui added.
Regragui concluded by recalling his decision to select certain players for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, despite their limited playing time at their clubs, reinforcing his belief in the importance of trust and support within the team.
