Rabat – Morocco head coach Mohamed Ouahbi is reportedly preparing to leave five young players out of his next senior squad to allow them to represent the Olympic team as both sides prepare for upcoming African competitions.
According to Moroccan newspaper Al Mountakhab, the players concerned are Ali Maamar, Ayoub Bouaddi, Yassir Zabiri, Yassine Gessime and Samir Mourabit.
The decision would see the five players miss Morocco’s two matches against Niger in November, scheduled for the third and fourth rounds of the qualifying campaign for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), which will be hosted by Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania.
The move is intended to strengthen the Olympic squad ahead of the second round of qualifying for the Africa U23 Cup of Nations, scheduled to take place in Egypt next year.
Morocco U23 team targets Olympic qualification
The Africa U23 Cup of Nations will also serve as a qualifying tournament for the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, United States, making the upcoming campaign an important step for Morocco’s young players.
Allowing the five footballers to join the Olympic squad would give the team additional options as it prepares for the continental qualifiers and seeks to secure a place at the tournament.
The reported decision also reflects coordination between Morocco’s senior and Olympic teams, with the aim of managing young players’ international commitments and ensuring that both squads have the necessary resources for their respective competitions.
Ouahbi’s reported decision to make the five players available to the Olympic team would therefore allow them to focus on the U23 qualification campaign while the senior side continues its preparations for the November fixtures.
The final squad selections and arrangements remain subject to official confirmation from the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF).
