The Morocco national team is expected to feature several notable changes when coach Mohamed Wahbi announces his squad for the opening two rounds of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.
Morocco face Gabon on 25 September before meeting Lesotho four days later, with the squad announcement expected on 17 September.
Wahbi’s selection is likely to attract considerable attention because a number of established players are set to miss the upcoming fixtures through suspension, injury or other circumstances.
The changes could also provide opportunities for several players who have impressed at club level in recent months.
Here are five of the biggest developments expected when Wahbi names his squad.
Hakimi and Saïbari set to miss out
One of the most significant changes will be the absence of Achraf Hakimi.
The Paris Saint-Germain defender’s omission is not expected to be directly related to the injury he recently suffered with his club. Instead, Hakimi is unavailable because of a suspension imposed by the African Football Confederation following the events surrounding the Africa Cup of Nations final against Senegal.
His absence will be a major blow to Morocco, with Hakimi regarded as one of the team’s most important players and captain of the Atlas Lions.
Wahbi will therefore have to identify an alternative capable of operating on the right side of defence and helping compensate for the loss of the experienced defender.
Ismail Saïbari is also expected to be unavailable because of suspension. The midfielder joined Bayern Munich in Germany this summer and has become an important member of the Moroccan squad in recent years.
New faces could be given their chance
With several familiar names unavailable, Wahbi could use the opportunity to introduce players who have performed strongly for their clubs.
Yasser Al-Zubairi is among those attracting attention following his performances for Racing Santander.
Younes Bentaleb, the Eintracht Frankfurt striker, is another player who could receive an opportunity after impressing with his attacking displays.
Othman Maama and Omar Al-Hilali are also among the players being considered as Wahbi completes his selection.
There could also be a change in the goalkeeping department.
Alaa Belarouch of Romanian club Dinamo Bucharest has emerged among the initial candidates for a place in the Morocco squad, with regular goalkeeper Yassine Bounou currently dealing with an injury.
Defensive options face major reshuffle
Morocco’s defence could undergo one of the most significant changes.
Nayef Aguerd, Chadi Riad and Youssef Belamri are all expected to be absent, while Hakimi’s suspension further reduces Wahbi’s options.
The combination of those absences means the coach could be forced to rely on less established alternatives and potentially move players into unfamiliar positions.
The challenge will be particularly demanding because Morocco must play two qualifying matches within a short period.
Wahbi will need to build a defensive unit capable of maintaining its effectiveness despite the disruption to his preferred options.
El Kaabi absence opens door for new attacking choices
The attacking department could also look different because Ayoub El Kaabi is expected to miss the qualifiers through injury.
The Olympiacos forward has been an important part of Morocco’s attacking options in recent years, making his absence another major selection issue for Wahbi.
The situation could lead to opportunities for other forwards.
One possibility is the return of Youssef En-Nesyri. The Al-Ittihad striker missed the last World Cup but could now feature as Wahbi considers his alternatives in attack.
Bentaleb’s strong club performances could also make him an option, while other emerging forwards could be given an opportunity.
As a result, Morocco’s forward line could look considerably different from previous squad selections.
Amrabat’s continued absence
Perhaps the most controversial issue surrounding the squad is the expected continued absence of Sofyan Amrabat.
The midfielder has made his position clear, linking his return to the departure of Wahbi as head coach.
If Amrabat remains out, Morocco will lose another player with considerable international experience.
His absence would leave Wahbi with the task of restructuring his midfield and finding alternative solutions in an area where experience could be particularly important during the qualifiers.
Overall, the Morocco squad expected on 17 September could look substantially different from previous selections.
Injuries, suspensions and voluntary absences have combined to leave Wahbi with a number of difficult decisions before the start of the qualifying campaign.
The coach’s challenge will be to turn the disruption into an opportunity for emerging players while ensuring Morocco remain competitive.
The Atlas Lions begin their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign against Gabon on 25 September before taking on Lesotho on 29 September.
