Rabat – Moroccan forward Yassir Zabiri has expressed his ambition to become a key figure in the national team’s attack ahead of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) that will be hosted jointly by Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda.
Zabiri believes he has what it takes to lead the Atlas Lions’ attack, as he continues working to establish himself among national team coach Mohamed Ouahbi’s options for upcoming competitions.
Speaking in a media interview with DAZN France, the Racing Santander striker expressed confidence in his ability to take on the responsibility, stressing that consistent performances and hard work will be essential to earning Ouahbi’s trust.
“I work throughout the year, and I hope we can continue in the same way. We will keep working so that the team earns the coach’s confidence, as he is the one who makes the decisions,” Zabiri said.
The 21-year-old also expressed the significance of representing Morocco, describing his first experiences with the senior national team as the fulfillment of a childhood dream.
“Wearing the Moroccan shirt is an honor for me and my entire family. It was a dream I had since childhood. Now we are enjoying these moments, and we will see what happens next,” he added.
Beyond securing a regular place in the squad, Zabiri hopes to help Morocco achieve continental success at 2027 AFCON. The young forward aims to go as far as possible in the competition and ultimately lift the trophy with the Atlas Lions.
Impressive start in Spain
Zabiri’s ambitions come amid an impressive start to life in Spanish football. Playing for Racing Santander on loan from French side Rennes, the striker has quickly established himself as one of the club’s effective attacking players.
He has scored eight goals in his first 10 La Liga appearances, placing him third in the list just after Barcelona’s Raphinha and Real Madrid’s Kylian Mbappe.
The former Mohammed VI Football Academy graduate previously played a key role in Morocco’s historic FIFA U20 World Cup triumph in Chile in 2025, scoring twice in the final against Argentina.
His performances in Spain have since made him one of Morocco’s promising attacking options ahead of the next continental competition.
