Morocco Coach Faces Backlash Over World Cup Qualifier Squad Selection

The list of players called up for the next matches of the Moroccan national team is far from unanimous. The choice of players occupying the defender position who are not shining with their clubs is not well received by Moroccan supporters. They criticize the choice made on Abdelkabir Abqar, defender of Deportivo Alavés, who has already participated in several matches with the national team without convincing, particularly in the first leg against Gabon as part of the Africa Cup of Nations (CAN) qualifiers. His club, currently 18th in LaLiga, is sinking: already 42 goals conceded this season.

The return of Jawad Yamiq, defender of the club Al Wehda in Saudi Arabia, to the national team, is not to the liking of some Moroccan supporters. He had been sidelined during several previous meetings. His club is second to last in the Saudi championship and has conceded 54 goals.

In addition, the call-up of Amine Adli who is just back from injury and has only played a few minutes recently, and of Bilal Nadir, a player from Olympique de Marseille, who has only played a few minutes with his club this season, is criticized. According to many observers of Moroccan football, Walid Regragui could have given a chance to other defenders such as Soufiane Bouftini, a player from Al-Wasl in the United Arab Emirates, Yahya Ben Khaleq, a defender from FUS Rabat, as well as Sallah Moussaddaq, a defender from Zamalek SC in Egypt. They deplore the absence of the best right-back on the African continent, Mohamed Chibi, a defender from Pyramids FC in Egypt, of Mahmoud Bentayg, who is nevertheless having a very good season with Zamalek SC and who was expected, at the very least, as a replacement for Noussair Mazraoui, from the list.