Ziyech’s Morocco Future Hangs in the Balance as Skictioy Unveils Arab Cup Lineup

Ziyech Excluded as Morocco Lines Up for AFCON and Arab Cup

Hakim Ziyech, who recently joined Wydad, will not feature for either the senior or the reserve Moroccan teams, dealing a heavy blow to the hopes of the star forward.

Tariq Saktioui, the head coach of the Moroccan reserve squad, named a 29-man group for a training camp at Mohammed VI Academy in preparation for the Arab Cup in Qatar next month.

The list did not include Ziyech, leaving the fate of one of Morocco's greatest scorers officially in the balance for the senior team and the reserves ahead of AFCON and the Arab Cup.

The move follows rumors that Saktioui coordinated with Walid Regraki to bring the player into the reserve side and ready him for potential inclusion with the national team at AFCON.

For the player, this is a painful setback after choosing to sign with a Moroccan club to return to action and boost his chances of appearing at AFCON, a dream since he left the Netherlands to represent the Atlas Lions about ten years ago.

Thus Ziyech’s hopes seem to fade as Regraki left him out of the current squad, though in earlier remarks he had hinted at a possible recall if he found a club that would join his ranks.

CAN Syndrome

The reserve squad list provided a lifeline and a last chance for Ziyech to rejoin Morocco's national teams for now, after Regraki excluded him from the current camp for friendlies versus Mozambique and Uganda. The camp precedes the Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, signaling a strategic move in favor of players judged ready and competitive.

Ziyech had hoped to join the Wydad setup to stay close to Regraki, but his absence is interpreted as a decisive statement that the coach expects complete readiness and competitiveness, a standard not yet met by the star forward.

Earlier reports suggested Ziyech was on an expanded roster awaiting consent to attend, but the final list shows a different direction and narrows his path to the CAN stage.

The arc of Ziyech’s international journey reads like a soap opera of missed calls and reconciliations, with AFCON the recurring dream that remains tantalizingly out of reach for now.

THE RESERVE SQUAD: A LAST-CHANCE ENGINE

The current reserve call-up is presented as a lifeline and the last chance for Ziyech to return to Morocco’s national teams. The camp is set for friendlies against Mozambique and Uganda, acting as a warm-up before the Arab Cup, which in turn serves as a prelude to the main event, AFCON, scheduled to be hosted by Morocco.

The decision to leave Ziyech out sends a clear signal: the coach values sharpness and readiness above loyalty to past exploits, a sensible stance in a competition where timing can be everything.

Historically, Ziyech’s national-team presence has ebbed and flowed, with injuries, form, and coaching philosophies all leaving their mark on his international career. This moment underscores the evolving dynamics between star players and tournament-ready selections.

Final Morocco Reserve Squad and Key Prospects

Even with Ziyech absent, the reserve squad mixes domestic league standouts with players plying their trade abroad. The goalkeepers are Salah El Shihab (Morocco Fassi), Mehdi Benabid (Wydad), and Rachid Ghnimi (Fath Rabat).

Defenders include Haitham Manout (Renaissance Berkane), Hamza Mousaoui (Renaissance Berkane), Marwan Al Wadni (Royal Army), Younes Abdulhameed (Royal Army), Anas Bash (Royal Army), Mohammed Boulkout (Raja Casablanca), Mohammed Mofid (Wydad), Marwan Saadan (Al Fateh), Sofiane Bouftini (Al Wasl), and Mahmoud Bentayk (Zamalek).

Midfielders feature Ayyub Khiri (Renaissance Berkane), Khalid Aytorhan (Royal Army), Mohammed Rabie Harimatt (Royal Army), Saber Bogrein (Raja), Ashraf Al Madhoui (Al Taawon), and Walid Kartri (Pyramids).

Forwards include Yousef Mehri (Renaissance Berkane), Mounir Chaouir, Hamza Al Hanouri (Wydad), Abdul Razzaq Hamdallah (Al Shabab), Kareem Al Barkawi (Al Dhafra), Walid Azzaro (Ajman), Tariq Tissoudali (Khorfakkan), Osama Tanan (Am Salah), Amin Zhazouz (Al Wakrah), and Ashraf Ben Sharqi (Al Ahly).

The overarching objective remains to lift a trophy, a goal reiterated by Saktioui in prior discussions, while CAN continues to loom as the marquee prize for the Atlas Lions.

In short, Ziyech’s absence reshapes the national team’s immediate plans, and Morocco’s depth is being tested as it prepares for a busy calendar. And if the bench starts getting crowded, perhaps the coach will start charging admission for the warm-up act.

Closing thoughts and a bit of swagger

Two punchlines to cap it off: If football were a stand-up show, Ziyech’s comeback would be the crowd-pleaser everyone waits for, but the joke keeps getting paused for dramatic effect. And remember, if you think the Arab Cup is intense, wait until AFCON—that’s where the real headliners show up, and the subtitles finally learn to keep up with the punchlines.