Key Decisions Ahead of the 2026 World Cup for Morocco's Squad
In a critical development for Moroccan football, coach Mohamed Wahbi held an extensive meeting with his coaching staff to finalize the status of several players who have been sidelined due to injuries ahead of the upcoming 2026 World Cup. The Moroccan national team, known as the Atlas Lions, is set to compete in Group C of the tournament alongside Brazil, Haiti, and Scotland, making their performance crucial for advancing in the competition.
According to reports from the Moroccan newspaper "Al-Muntakhab", the availability of defender Nayef Aguerd for the opening match against Brazil is highly doubtful due to his ongoing injury concerns. Coach Wahbi is contemplating the possibility of excluding Aguerd from the squad, based on the latest medical assessments, and may opt to replace him with another defender. This decision is anticipated to be made in the coming hours as the team prepares for its World Cup campaign.
Additionally, the coaching staff, along with the Moroccan Football Federation, has requested a final medical report regarding the injury status of Abdessamad Ezzalzouli, the Real Betis star, who suffered an injury during a friendly match against Norway. Meanwhile, Nasir Mazraoui, despite facing injury issues during the same match, is seen as having a favorable chance to participate in the tournament, with optimism surrounding his recovery allowing him to potentially join the squad in subsequent matches, even if he misses the opener against Brazil.
As the Moroccan team gears up for their World Cup journey, they are expected to announce the final decisions regarding the participation of these three players shortly. The Atlas Lions recently achieved two victories in friendly matches against Burundi and Madagascar, and they also played to a 1-1 draw against Norway, further enhancing their preparation as they aim to make a significant impact in the tournament.
As reported by eremnews.com.
