Bono, Hakimi and Brahim star in strong Morocco squad for FIFA World Cup 2026
by Alex Lawes ·
Updated
Morocco manager Mohamed Ouahbi has announced his 26-man squad for FIFA World Cup 2026.
Real Betis winger Abde Ez has been replaced by Angers’ Amine Sbai and centre-back Nayef Aguerd has also had to be replaced with Marwane Saadane coming in for him.
Mohamed Ouahbi has named a strong 26-man Moroccan squad for FIFA World Cup 2026, as the Atlas Lions seek to continue on the upward trajectory that they have been on for the last half a decade or so.
The North Africans, who were crowned African champions after CAF stripped Senegal of their controversial CAF Africa Cup of Nations title earlier this year, boast an impressive squad and Ouahbi, who took charge in March after the impressive stint of Walid Regragui, has a lot of tools at his disposal.
The FIFA U20 World Cup 2025 winning coach can fall back on an experienced core at the back with goalkeeper Bono in behind captain Achraf Hakimi, Crystal Palace’s Chadi Riad and Manchester United’s versatile Noussair Mazraoui. He will also have Issa Diop to call upon after the Fulham centre-back switched his international allegiance from France to Morocco back in March.
In the middle of the park, the experienced Sofyan Amrabat is somewhat a surprise inclusion due to the increased competitiveness and depth in Morocco’s pool to pick from – with Ayyoub Bouaddi, Neil El Aynaoui and Azzedine Ounahi set to compete for, likely, two spots. Amir Richardson and Oussama El Azzouzi are among those to miss out.
Further forward sees quite an exciting crop of players headed up by Real Madrid’s Brahim Diaz but the interesting options for Ouahbi are extensive with Bilal El Khannouss, Ismael Saibari, Chemsdine Talbi and Ayoube Amaimouni all providing exciting versatility across the forward line.
Olympiacos’ Ayoub El Kaabi remains a key man up-front but, not too unsurprisingly after missing out in March, 92-cap Youssef En-Nesyri, their match winner against Portugal in the quarter-finals in 2022, has been left out alongside Ilias Akhomach, Hamza Igamane, Eliesse Ben Seghir, Sofiane Diop, Osame Sahraoui, Maroan Sannadi and Amine Adli.
