Morocco unveils robust squad with ambition to break AFCON title drought

Morocco manager, Walid Regragui has named a 27-man squad for next month’s Africa Cup of Nations, taking up his side’s chances of finally ending their lengthy wait for continental success. The Atlas Lions have not won the competition since 1976, falling at the final hurdle in 2004, but after reaching the World Cup semi-finals last year, confidence is high that the 47-year curse can be overcome when the tournament kicks off in January.

Regragui, who has lost just one game since being appointed last August, has kept faith with the majority of the squad that impressed in Qatar. Star players Achraf Hakimi, Youssef En-Nesyri and Sofyan Amrabat, are all cut, but the coach has also brought in emerging talents like PSV’s Ismael Saibari and Real Betis defender Chadi Riad, to freshen things up. The coach said the election was about a “good balance between the present and the future”.

In the group stages, Morocco has been drawn against DR Congo, Tanzania and Zambia. Regragui has told his players not to get overwhelmed by the weight of expectation, saying “The state of mind is what is important.” The target is to “give it the maximum and not have regrets”, when the tournament reaches its climax on February 10.

Few would bet against the Atlas Lions going all the way if they can replicate the form that saw them conquer Belgium, Spain and Portugal in Qatar. Regragui said his team will “go there with complete confidence to overcome the curse of the African Cup.” After nearly half a century of hurt, this could finally be Morocco’s year, especially with a squad that includes:

GOALKEEPERS:

Yassine Bounou (Al Hilal/KSA)

Mounir El Kajoui (Al-Wehda/KSA)

El Mehdi Benabid (AS FAR)

DEFENDERS:

Achraf Hakimi (Paris Saint-Germain/FRA)

Mohamed Chibi (Pyramids/EGY)

Abdelkabir Abqar (Deportivo Alaves/ESP)

Romain Saiss (Al-Shabab/KSA)

Nayef Aguerd (West Ham/ENG)

Yunis Abdelhamid (Rennes/FRA)

Chadi Riad (Real Betis/ESP)

Noussair Mazraoui (Bayern Munich/GER)

Yahia Attiat Allah (Wydad Casablanca)

MIDFIELDERS:

Bilal El Khannouss (Genk/BEL)

Azzeddine Ounahi (Marseille/FRA)

Oussama El Azzouzi (Bologna/ITA)

Sofyan Amrabat (Manchester United/ENG)

Selim Amallah (Valencia/ESP)

Amir Richardson (Reims/FRA)

Hakim Ziyech (Galatasaray/TUR)

Amine Harit (Marseille/FRA)

Sofiane Boufal (Al-Rayyan)

FORWARDS:

Ismael Saibari (PSV Eindhoven/NED)

Amine Adli (Bayer Leverkusen/GER)

Ayoub El Kaabi (Olympiacos/GRE)

Youssef En-Nesyri (Sevilla/ESP)

Tarik Tissoudali (Gent/BEL)

Abdessamad Ezzalzouli (Real Betis/ESP)