Morocco's national football team, the Lions de l'Atlas, has unveiled its 26-player squad for the upcoming matches against Niger, counting for the 3rd and 4th journées of the CAN-2027 qualifiers. The team, led by coach Mohamed Ouahbi, will face Niger on November 13 and 17 in Casablanca and Rabat. With six points from two victories against Gabon and Lesotho, Morocco aims to consolidate its position in Group A.
Coach Mohamed Ouahbi has opted for a mix of stability and renewal in his squad selection. The list includes the first convocation of Ayoub Oufkir, a right winger from AZ Alkmaar, and the return of Youssef En-Nesyri, who brings experience and a strong aerial presence. The team also retains several key players, maintaining the foundations of the national team. This approach reflects Ouahbi's strategy to integrate new talents while preserving the team's core.
The return of Youssef En-Nesyri is seen as a significant boost to the team. His experience, aerial ability, and capacity to create scoring opportunities will complement the existing attacking options, including Brahim Diaz, Abdessamad Ezzalzouli, and Yassir Zabiri. En-Nesyri's profile is expected to be particularly valuable against teams that adopt a compact defensive block.
The squad includes four goalkeepers: Yassine Bounou, Munir El Kajoui, Ahmed Reda Tagnaouti, and Alaa Bellaarouch. This selection provides the technical staff with multiple alternatives, with Bounou remaining a key reference in goal. The defense will be anchored by experienced players like Achraf Hakimi, Noussair Mazraoui, and Nayef Aguerd, alongside new options such as Issa Diop and Abdelhamid Aït Boudlal.
The midfield selection offers a range of possibilities, with players like Ayyoub Bouaddi, Neil El Aynaoui, and Bilal El Khannouss providing different options for recovery, construction, and offensive projection. The attack, with its diverse profiles, will allow the coach to vary the team's approach according to the opponents. This squad reflects a strategy to build a competitive team over the long term.
The upcoming matches against Niger will provide coach Mohamed Ouahbi with an opportunity to assess his new options, strengthen team automatisms, and build on the positive momentum of the Moroccan team. The selection balances continuity, returns, and integration of new talents, marking a new step in the preparation of the Lions de l'Atlas for the CAN-2027.
The Moroccan team's performance in the CAN-2027 qualifiers has been strong so far, with two convincing victories against Gabon and Lesotho. The team's ambition is to maintain this momentum and secure a spot in the tournament. With a renewed squad and a balanced approach, the Lions de l'Atlas are poised to make a strong impact in the qualifiers.
Key points
- Morocco's national football team has announced its 26-player squad for the upcoming CAN-2027 qualifiers against Niger.
- Coach Mohamed Ouahbi has opted for a mix of stability and renewal in his squad selection.
- The team aims to consolidate its position in Group A and build a competitive squad for the CAN-2027.
