Morocco’s Left-Back Dilemma: Regragui Weighs 5 Options for Upcoming AFCON Qualifiers

Who between Noussair Mazraoui, Zakaria El Ouahdi, Adam Aznou, Yahya Attiat-Allah or Mohamed Chibi will be placed in the left-back position? This is the puzzle that Walid Regragui is struggling to solve before unveiling on Thursday, August 29 - unless the agenda changes at the last minute - the list of players who will be called up for the next matches of the Atlas Lions against Gabon, scheduled for September 6, and against Lesotho, on September 9, during the first and second rounds of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (CAN 2025) qualifiers. These five Moroccan internationals are talented players.

Noussair Mazraoui, the new player of Manchester United, represents a solid asset for the national team due to his great experience at the European level. Zakaria El Ouahdi, star of the Belgian club Genk, has offensive and defensive skills. He has put in good performances during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. Adam Aznou, the young prodigy of Bayern Munich, is in an upward phase. He would have even caught Regragui’s eye.

Considered one of the essential pillars, Yahya Attiat-Allah, could play an important role in this position. Regragui could also focus his choice on Mohamed Chibi. The Moroccan right-back of Pyramids FC has shown his ability to adapt to the left-back position if needed.