Atlas Lions: Walid Regragui’s big clean-up after the AFCON final

The Moroccan technical staff is working behind the scenes to prepare for the next gathering at the Mohammed VI Football Complex, scheduled for next month. The stated objective is to reduce the dependence on the "old guard" and to propose credible alternatives in several key positions. Walid Regragui intends to capitalize on the emergence of dual-national talents and young hopefuls performing in European leagues to revitalize a group marked by its recent second place finish on the continent.

According to sources close to the Federation cited by Alyaoum24, a preliminary list of seven new names has been identified to embody this new era. Among the most anticipated recruits is Ayyoub Bouaddi, the LOSC Lille midfielder, who would have definitively opted for Morocco over France. He should be accompanied by Othmane Maamma and the returning Imrân Louza, both playing at Watford, as well as Yassir Zabiri (Stade Rennais), Ismaël Baouf (Cambuur), Samir El Mourabit (Strasbourg) and Yanis Begraoui (Estoril).

This rejuvenation of the squad will mechanically lead to the absence of several usual leaders. While injuries are already sidelining pillars like Sofyan Amrabat, Azzedine Ounahi and goalkeeper Munir Mohamedi, other choices are purely sporting. Iconic figures such as captain Romain Saïss, Jawad El Yamiq or Eliesse Ben Seghir could not be called up, paying there a lack of competitiveness or performances deemed below expectations during the last African competition.

This squad review will be put to the test during a European tour against South American opponents. The Atlas Lions will first face Ecuador on Friday, March 27 at the Metropolitano Stadium in Madrid, before taking on Paraguay four days later, on March 31, in Lens. These two matches will serve as a first full-scale test to validate Regragui’s options for future deadlines.