Moroccan forward Yassir Zabiri is determined to establish himself as a key figure in the Atlas Lions’ attack ahead of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations, as he continues to make an impression in Spanish football.
The 21-year-old Racing Santander striker wants to earn the confidence of head coach Mohamed Ouahbi and secure a regular place in Morocco’s plans for the continental tournament, which will be jointly hosted by Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda.
Speaking in an interview with DAZN France, Zabiri stressed the importance of maintaining his progress and allowing his performances to speak for themselves.
“I work throughout the year, and I hope we can continue in the same way. We will keep working so that the team earns the coach’s confidence, as he is the one who makes the decisions,” he said.
Representing Morocco a childhood dream
The former Mohammed VI Football Academy graduate also reflected on the significance of representing his country, describing the opportunity to wear Morocco’s shirt as a lifelong ambition.
“Wearing the Moroccan shirt is an honour for me and my entire family. It was a dream I had since childhood. Now we are enjoying these moments, and we will see what happens next,” he added.
Beyond securing his place in Ouahbi’s squad, Zabiri is targeting success at the 2027 AFCON and hopes to help Morocco compete for the continental title.
His ambition comes as competition for attacking positions in the national team continues to grow, with the young striker looking to make his mark through consistent performances at club level.
Zabiri shines in Spanish football
Zabiri’s confidence has been boosted by an impressive start to life at Racing Santander, where he is spending the 2026/27 season on loan from French club Stade Rennais.
The Moroccan has scored eight goals in his first 10 La Liga appearances, placing him among the competition’s leading scorers. His tally includes a hat-trick against Elche and a decisive goal in Racing’s 2-1 victory over Espanyol on October 24.
His performances have strengthened his reputation as one of Morocco’s emerging attacking talents. Ouahbi also included him in his first senior national team squad in September 2026, giving him an opportunity to establish himself at international level. <Cite refs={[“turn451023search0”]} />
Zabiri previously played a starring role in Morocco’s historic triumph at the 2025 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Chile, scoring twice in the final as the North Africans defeated Argentina 2-0.
With the 2027 AFCON approaching, the forward will be hoping to carry his club form into the national team and become an important part of Morocco’s pursuit of continental success.
