Wahbi announces Morocco squad for Niger clashes amid notable absences

Mohamed Wahbi, the head coach of the Moroccan national team, has revealed the list of players selected for the training camp scheduled to start on November 9, in preparation for the matches against Niger, as part of the third and fourth rounds of the Africa Cup of Nations Qualification 2027.

Walid Regragui unveiled the 'Atlas Lions' squad during a press conference held today at the Mohammed VI Football Complex in Maamoura, which featured several surprises, with the absence of a number of prominent names due to injury, including Ismail Bouzid, Ayoub El Kaabi, and Soufiane Rahimi.

On the other hand, the Moroccan coach's selections saw Ayoub Oufkir called up to the senior national team for the first time, alongside the return of Youssef En-Nesyri and Reda Belahyane, in a move that comes as part of the team's preparations for the upcoming challenges.

Goalkeepers: Yassine Bounou, Munir Mohand, Ahmed Reda, Alaa Bellaarouch.

Defenders: Nayef Aguerd, Noussair Mazraoui, Salah Eddine Anss, Souffian El Karouani, Redouane Hallhal, Issa Diop, Abdelhamid Ait Boudlal, Achraf Hakimi, Ali Maamar.

Midfield: Ayyoub Bouaddi, Neil El Aynaoui, Osama Tergaline, Bilal El Khannouss, Reda Belahyane, Abdellah Ouazane, Amine Sbaï.

Forward line: Brahim Díaz, Yassine Jbari, Abde Ezzalzouli, Youssef En-Nesyri, Yasser Zabbari, Ayoub Oufkir.

Morocco's national team will begin their matches against Niger on November 13 at the Mohammed V Stadium in Casablanca, before the two teams meet again on the 17th of the same month at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in the capital, Rabat.

The Moroccan national team squad is as follows: