Regragui’s Call: Saiss and Rahimi Return as Hakimi Faces a Recovery Road

Key details of Morocco's camp for Mozambique and Uganda friendlies

Morocco head coach Walid Regragui unveiled the squad for two upcoming friendlies against Mozambique and Uganda at the Grand Stade de Tanger, a match that will mark the venue's inaugural use as it eyes Africa Cup of Nations with a capacity for 75,000 spectators.

The announcement, made at the Mohammed VI Complex press conference, lists 27 players. The most notable absence is captain Achraf Hakimi, sidelined for more than a month after a serious injury sustained for Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League against Bayern Munich. Regragui admitted the setback is painful and warned of the impact on the team's mood as they prepare for AFCON.

In addition to Hakimi's injury, the squad features the return of key players who had missed recent camps due to injuries, such as Román Saïss (Al Sadd, Qatar) and Sofyan Rahimi (Al Ain, UAE), as well as Azdine Onahi (Girona, Spain) and other regulars.

The coach described his approach as focusing on a balanced squad rather than relying on a single star, praising the mental strength of the group and the need to be ready for AFCON challenges against African opponents.

Hakimi's misfortune aside, Morocco's call-up also signals a strong defensive and midfield core, with the likes of Mazraoui and others set to bolster the backline and midfield. Regragui emphasized the importance of players stepping up and maintaining momentum for the national team’s ambitions.

On Hakim Ziyech's situation, the coach welcomed his arrival at Wydad Casablanca and expressed optimism regarding his influence and leadership within the squad, while also noting the contributions of Said Amrabat and others in providing depth and competition for places.

As for the future, Regragui reiterated that the team's AFCON bid would be built on collective effort rather than individual brilliance, and he called for unwavering support from Moroccan fans to help the side chase a long-awaited continental title.

The following is the new Morocco squad for the Mozambique and Uganda friendlies, with a mix of established names and returning players ready to contribute to the mission.

Goalkeepers: three veterans in the squad.

Defenders and midfielders are set to offer a robust balance, with returning players ready to shoulder responsibilities and new faces eager to prove their worth.

As the program moves forward, Regragui reinforced that the AFCON quest will be pursued with unity and collective effort, urging fans to stay behind the team during these crucial preparation matches.

— Punchlines for a lighter moment: If football had a GPS, Morocco would be the team that says “recalculating” and somehow still finds the back of the net. And if a stadium could talk, Tangier’s grand arena would request a bigger glory seat, because Moroccan fans always show up for the main event.