On May 26, 2023, Morocco's national team coach, Mohamed Ouahbi, announced the selection of 26 players who will represent the country at the upcoming FIFA World Cup 2026. Among the notable names included in the squad are Brahim Díaz from Real Madrid, Abdessamad Ezzalzouli from Real Betis, and the team’s captain, Achraf Hakimi.
During a press conference, Ouahbi remarked that the selection process was challenging; however, he emphasized that he employed a "fair and objective" method to finalize the roster. He acknowledged the limited time available for a thorough evaluation of the players, which led him to rely on a recent training camp with a preliminary list of players to gain deeper insights into their abilities and potential contributions to the team.
Ouahbi expressed confidence in the squad’s capabilities, stating, "We have had a very good concentration... everyone present could have made it to the World Cup." Morocco will compete in Group C of the World Cup, facing formidable opponents including Brazil, Scotland, and Haiti.
The selected players include:
- Goalkeepers: Yassine Bounou, Munir El Kajoui, Ahmed Reda Tagnaouti.
- Defenders: Noussair Mazraoui, Anass Salah-Eddine, Youssef Belammari, Achraf Hakimi, Zakaria El Ouahdi, Chadi Riad, Nayef Aguerd, Redouane Halhal, Issa Diop.
- Midfielders: Samir El Mourabet, Ayyoub Bouaddi, Neil El Aynaoui, Sofyan Amrabat, Azzedine Ounahi, Bilal El Khannouss, Ismael Saibari.
- Forwards: Abde Ezzalzouli, Chemsdine Talbi, Soufiane Rahimi, Ayoub El Kaabi, Brahim Diaz Gessime, Ayoube Amaimouni.
As reported by holanews.com.
