Rabat—Morocco’s new head coach, Mohamed Ouahbi has officially revealed the starting squad for the national team. One of the biggest talking points was the absence of winger Ilias Akhomach. Despite his rising profile at Rayo Vallecano, where he is on loan from Villarreal CF and earning regular minutes in La Liga, he did not make the selection for the upcoming friendlies against Ecuador and Paraguay.
At the press conference unveiling the squad today in Maamoura, coach Mohamed Ouahbi was asked about Akhomach’s exclusion. He made it clear that the decision was not due to injury. “Akhomach did suffer a light knock, but it seems he is in good condition now, so the choice we made is a technical one, not related to injury,” he said.
For Ouahbi, even if the winger could still play for his club, “these are the options we have taken.”
By bringing in fresh faces like Yassine Gessime and Chemsdine Talbi alongside the veterans, the new coach proves the staff is focused on finding the right chemistry quickly for these two European friendlies.
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The decision to leave out both Youssef En-Nesyri and Ilias Akhomach from the latest squad is perhaps the clearest sign of Ouahbi’s new direction. By moving on from a veteran with 92 caps like En-Nesyri and a rising star like Akhomach, he’s proving that past reputation and potential no longer guarantee a spot. A bold tactical statement.
The newly appointed coach elaborated on his tactical choices, explaining that he wants to use this first meetup to test out different attacking styles and lineups. With emerging talents like Yassine Gessime and Yassir Zabiri joining the squad, alongside the return of established players, the technical staff prioritized immediate balance and complementarity for the two European friendlies.
He added that the door remains open for Akhomach in the future, as with other players like Youssef En-Nesyri, who were also left out for tactical reasons. “Nothing is final, and I think you will discover that later. We have players we know well, and there are players we want to give a chance to. We are looking for balance in the team and we don’t always want the same patterns, which is why we are keen to make changes that strengthen competitiveness within the squad,” Ouahbi said.
These choices show Ouahbi is serious about building a balanced squad for the 2026 World Cup. He’s prioritizing current form and hunger over past reputations, making it clear that a spot in the team isn’t guaranteed just because a player was a regular under Walid Regragui.
Read also: Ouahbi’s First Morocco Squad Annouced for Ecuador and Paraguay Friendlies
