Morocco will begin their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign without seven key players, leaving coach Mohamed Wahbi with difficult selection decisions ahead of matches against Gabon and Lesotho later this month.
The Atlas Lions are due to play Gabon on 25 September before meeting Lesotho on 29 September. The fixtures will be Morocco’s first matches since the 2026 World Cup and the first official test of Wahbi’s tenure as national team coach.
The absence of several established players is expected to force the coaching staff to make significant changes to their plans, with problems affecting both the defensive and attacking areas of the squad.
Among the most notable absentees are Achraf Hakimi and Ismail Saibari, who will miss the matches because of disciplinary sanctions.
Abdel Samad Zalzouli has also been ruled out after failing to recover completely from his recent physical problems.
The injury list is further complicated by the absence of Youssef Belamri, Chadi Riad, Ayoub El Kaabi and Marouane Saadane. All four players have been affected by different injuries and will therefore not be available for the upcoming national team camp.
With so many experienced players missing, Wahbi will have to assess his alternatives before naming his final squad. The coach is expected to announce the list of players selected for the two fixtures on 17 September.
The announcement will be closely followed by Moroccan supporters, who will be looking for indications of how the coach intends to rebuild his team following the World Cup and deal with the significant gaps created by the absences.
Amrabat decision adds to Morocco’s problems
The difficulties facing Wahbi extend beyond injuries and disciplinary issues.
Sofyan Amrabat has also announced that he will not represent Morocco under Wahbi, providing another setback for the new coach as he prepares for his first African Cup of Nations qualifying campaign in charge.
Amrabat’s decision adds another layer of uncertainty to the preparations and leaves the coaching staff with an even greater need to find solutions from the players available to them.
The circumstances mean that Wahbi and his staff will have to make effective use of the depth within the Moroccan squad. They must identify players capable of stepping into important roles while maintaining the team’s competitiveness during the qualifiers.
The shortage affects different areas of the team, meaning the coaching staff will need to consider both defensive and attacking alternatives.
The first major examination will come against Gabon on 25 September. Four days later, Morocco will face Lesotho, giving the squad another opportunity to demonstrate that the absences have not seriously weakened the team.
For the players who remain available, the two matches represent an opportunity to establish themselves under the new coach. The situation could also allow less-established members of the squad to take on greater responsibility at international level.
Wahbi faces early test as Morocco coach
The qualifiers represent an important beginning for Wahbi, who is leading Morocco for the first time in an official campaign.
The coach must now prepare his side for two competitive matches while dealing with a long list of unavailable players. His ability to adapt his tactical approach and make the most of the squad’s remaining resources will be central to Morocco’s hopes of making a strong start.
The coaching staff will be expected to respond quickly to the problems created by the missing players and ensure that the team remains focused despite the disruption.
Morocco’s objective will be to overcome the difficult circumstances and begin their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign positively.
The matches against Gabon and Lesotho will therefore provide more than an opportunity to collect results. They will also show whether the players called upon to replace the missing stars are ready to accept increased responsibility.
For Moroccan supporters, the hope is that the Atlas Lions can maintain their competitiveness despite the depleted squad and demonstrate that the team’s strength does not depend entirely on its biggest names.
The challenge for Wahbi is to turn a difficult start into an opportunity to test the depth of his squad. With the first qualifying match approaching, Morocco must find answers quickly if they are to make the strong beginning expected by their fans.
