Marrakech – Young and promising Rennes center-back Abdelhamid Ait Boudlal will make his return to the Moroccan national team during the ongoing November 10-18 FIFA international window.
This marks the second time the Marrakech-native has received a call-up from Walid Regragui. Ait-Boudlal was first named to the national team in October 2024, for two Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying games against the Central African Republic. The defender did not feature in either match-up.
Ait-Boudlal’s call-up comes following fellow Ligue 1 center-back Nayef Aguerd’s injury over the weekend. The Marseille defender is dealing with a pubalgia, a common groin injury among footballers, and had to come off the pitch in Marseille’s 3-0 home win vs Brest on Saturday.
After an animated summer transfer window, which saw Rennes reject three offers for the young Moroccan defender, Ait Boudlal has put together an impressive start to the 2025-2026 season. He has become an important player for the Breton side, confirming the high hopes and faith expressed by his Rennes manager Habib Beye.
“He has exceptional potential at the club, and he’s shown it during this preparation”, he told Ouest-France in August. “He’s a young player that we must continue guiding, but he’s demonstrated very good aptitudes and composure.”
Ait Boudlal, a Mohammed VI Football Academy graduate, stands out with his long athletic frame. At a height of 190 centimeters, the defender has the potential to be a considerable aerial presence, as he showed against Nice in Matchday 9 of the Ligue 1 season, heading in Rennes’ lone goal of the game.
Ait Boudlal has also received praise from former Moroccan international Faouzi Jamal. In an interview with Africafoot, Jamal, now head-coach of Mouloudia Oujda, described the young defender as “one of the most beautiful Moroccan revelations this season,” citing his dueling and build-up abilities, as well as his calm under pressure.
Over the next few days, the young prospect will have a chance to not only learn from the core of experienced defenders that head coach Walid Regragui named in his list, but also compete to make his debut with the senior national team, as the 2025 AFCON fast approaches.
