Rabat – Morocco head coach Mohamed Ouahbi is preparing to reshape parts of his squad ahead of the Atlas Lions’ opening matches in the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers after the suspension of captain Achraf Hakimi and midfielder Ismael Saibari.
The national team will begin its qualifying campaign against Gabon during the next international break before facing Lesotho. The Atlas Lions will be without Hakimi for both games, while Saibari is expected to miss the first of the two fixtures.
Hakimi has been suspended for two matches by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) following incidents that occurred during the 2025 AFCON final against Senegal. Saibari, meanwhile, received a one-match suspension, with an additional suspended sanction.
The absences present Ouahbi with his first major selection challenge since Morocco’s quarterfinal run at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Right-back options under consideration
According to snrtnews, Ouahbi is considering several alternatives to replace Hakimi on the right flank.
Among the leading candidates is Anderlecht youngster Ali Maamar, who has impressed in Belgium with his recent performances. Espanyol defender Omar El Hilali also remains in contention after previously being included in Morocco’s extended World Cup squad.
Another option would see Noussair Mazraoui return to his natural role at right-back, with Anass Salah-Eddine among the main candidates to fill the post of left-back.
Saibari absence opens tactical debate
Saibari’s suspension also forces Morocco to reconsider its attacking setup.
The Bayern Munich midfielder had successfully operated as a false nine during the World Cup before suffering an injury in the Round of 16 against Canada.
Ouahbi could once again hand Bilal El Khannouss that role after the midfielder demonstrated his ability to exploit spaces between defensive lines and create numerical superiority.
Alternatively, Morocco could return to using a traditional striker, with Sofiane Rahimi and Ayoub El Kaabi both offering different attacking profiles. Rahimi provides mobility and creativity by drifting inside from wide areas, while El Kaabi remains a classic center-forward known for his movement inside the penalty area and his efficiency in converting crosses and scoring opportunities.
Stability remains the priority
Despite the suspensions, Ouahbi is not expected to make sweeping changes to the squad that reached the World Cup quarterfinals. Instead, the coaching staff intends to gradually expand the player pool while preserving the team’s core identity.
In the coming weeks, Ouahbi and assistant coach João Sacramento are expected to travel across Europe to meet players and monitor their progress before finalizing Morocco’s squad for the September training camp.
The continue to closely monitor several emerging talents, including Abdellah Ouazane, Adam Aznou, Othmane Maamma, Abdelhamid Aït Boudlal, Ismail Baouf, Rayane Bounida, Yannis Bekraoui, and goalkeeper Yannis Benchaouch.
September’s training camp will mark the beginning of Morocco’s AFCON 2027 qualifying journey and provide an early indication of how the Atlas Lions can maintain their competitive level despite the temporary absence of two of their most influential players.
