Morocco's Regragui Pulls the Curtain: Ziyech Left Out as AFCON Squad Is Named

AFCON Readiness: Regragui ends the experiments

Morocco's head coach Walid Regragui said there is no longer room for experimentation as the Africa Cup of Nations approaches on home soil. He stressed that the team must lock in its chemistry and tactics well ahead of the tournament and that the pursuit of the title is non-negotiable.

During a press conference at the Mohammed VI Complex, Regragui unveiled the official squad and explained that selections were guided by objective criteria and club commitments, noting the difficulty of finding viable African opponents because many peers are tied up in World Cup qualifiers. He said the Bahrain friendly and the Congo World Cup qualifier this month aim to boost cohesion across the lines, regardless of the opponent.

He reiterated that the Africa Cup is the primary objective and that the appetite for success remains high under pressure, with the team aware of its status as a leading contender. He added that there is no room for soft language or sentiment—only hard work and unity will do.

Ziyech excluded from the final squad

As anticipated, Hakim Ziyech was not included in the final list, with Regragui explaining that his selection depended on securing a contract with a club. The coach praised Ziyech's quality but stressed that a national team cannot call up a player without an active professional contract.

Regragui argued that with AFCON looming, maintaining rhythm, balance, and tactical discipline was crucial, and the final roster reflects that calculus. He praised the recent form of European-based players and said their performances bolster the squad’s ambitions in Africa.

The squad at a glance

The goalkeeper trio features Yassine Bounou (Al Hilal), Munir Mohamedi (RS Berkane), and Mehdi Harrr (Raja CA). Defenders include Achraf Hakimi (Paris Saint-Germain), Nayef Aguerd (West Ham), Adam Masina (Torino), Sofiane Kerrouani (Excelsior), Omar Halali (Espanyol), Mohammed Shibi (Pyramids FC), Youssef Belamri (Raja CA), Jawad Yamiq (Al-Nassr), Abdelkadir Abqar (Getafe).

Midfielders are Sofiane Amrabat (Fenerbahce), Naïm El Ainawi (Roma), Ismail Sibari (Eindhoven), Bilal Khennous (Leicester City), Osama Tergaline (Feyenoord), and Ilias Ben Saïd (Monaco).

Forwards announced include Youssef En-Nesyri (Fenerbahce), Marwan Sandi (Athletic Bilbao), Ayoub El-Kabi (Olympiakos), Shamseddine Talbi (Sunderland), Amin Adli (AFC Bournemouth), Ibrahim Diaz (Real Madrid), Ilias Akhomach (Villarreal), Hamza Akman (Rangers), and Abdessamad Zelzouli (Real Betis).

Note: Club affiliations can change with transfers; football moves faster than a ball in a pinball machine.