Morocco's AFCON 2027 Qualifiers Squad: Ouahbi Blends Youth and Experience in First Selection
Photo: CAF
Morocco coach Mohamed Ouahbi has named three uncapped youngsters, including 17-year-old Abdellah Ouazane, in his first squad ahead of qualifiers against Gabon and Lesotho.
Morocco coach Mohamed Ouahbi has used his first squad selection to signal exactly the kind of balance he wants — three uncapped youngsters alongside a core of established, club-proven internationals, as the Atlas Lions begin their AFCON 2027 qualifying campaign against Gabon and Lesotho.
The 29-man squad was announced at the Mohammed VI Football Complex in Salé. Morocco host Gabon at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat on 25 September, before travelling to Bloemfontein, South Africa, to face Lesotho four days later. A friendly against Ghana in Tangier follows.
Ouazane leads a striking trio of newcomers
The most eye-catching name is 17-year-old Abdellah Ouazane, promoted to the senior set-up on the back of rapid development. He's joined by Racing Santander's Yassir Zabiri and Schalke 04's Soufian El Faouzi — three players Ouahbi clearly believes are ready for senior international football now, not later.
Familiar faces return
Nayef Aguerd is back in the fold following his move to Olympique de Marseille, while Abdelhamid Aït Boudlal also returns to the defence. Goalkeeper Alaa Bellarouch earns a recall after securing more regular playing time at Dinamo Bucharest, and Abdessamad Ezzalzouli returns to strengthen the attack.
Captain Achraf Hakimi and Noussair Mazraoui anchor a well-stocked defensive line, while Yassine Bounou and Munir El Kajoui lead a four-goalkeeper group. Bilal El Khannouss, Azzedine Ounahi and Ismaël Saibari feature in a deep midfield, with Real Madrid's Brahim Diaz spearheading the attack alongside Soufiane Rahimi.
One notable absence
Younès Ebnoutalib, eligible to represent Morocco, has instead been called up by Germany — a reminder of the competition Morocco faces for dual-national talent even as a continental power.
Full Morocco squad
Goalkeepers: Yassine Bounou, Munir El Kajoui, Ahmed Reda Tagnaouti, Alaa Bellarouch
Defenders: Noussair Mazraoui, Anass Salah-Eddine, Marwane Saadane, Nayef Aguerd, Redouane Halhal, Issa Diop, Abdelhamid Aït Boudlal, Achraf Hakimi, Zakaria El Ouahdi, Ali Maamar
Midfielders: Samir El Mourabet, Ayyoub Bouaddi, Neil El Aynaoui, Oussama Targalline, Bilal El Khannouss, Soufian El Faouzi, Azzedine Ounahi, Ismaël Saibari
Forwards: Brahim Diaz, Yassine Gessime, Abdessamad Ezzalzouli, Abdellah Ouazane, Soufiane Rahimi, Tawfik Bentayeb, Yassir Zabiri
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Squad information sourced from CAF's official announcement, 17 September 2026.
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