Morocco Eyes La Liga Defender El Hilali to Replace Injured Saïss

Omar El Hilali would be one of Regragui’s options for the central defender position, to replace the injured Romain Saïss. The 21-year-old player could find himself alongside Nayef Aguerd (Real Sociedad) to lead the Moroccan national team’s defense in the upcoming confrontations.

The right-back of Espanyol Barcelona is currently one of the best defenders in La Liga. His statistics prove it: El Hilali is one of the players who have won the most duels. His technical qualities are undeniable. The prodigy succeeds in 50% of his crosses, which shows his ability to make a difference both defensively and offensively.

The Moroccan coach, who is looking for versatile talents like El Hilali, capable of playing in several positions, could include the 21-year-old player in his final list for the matches against Niger and Tanzania, scheduled for March 21 and 25 in Oujda, as part of the qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup.

Regragui and his assistants, Rachid Benmahmoud and Abdel Bouhazama, continue to refine the list of players for these two decisive matches. The Moroccan coach is facing a defensive puzzle, after the injuries of Chadi Riad, Romain Saïss, as well as that of other players in poor form.