Morocco’s Star Goalkeeper Bounou to Miss Friendlies Due to Club World Cup Commitments

The absence of these two players is due to their respective commitments with their clubs, Al Hilal for Bounou and Wydad Athletic Club for Benabid, as part of the FIFA Club World Cup 2025. Consequently, they will not be able to play in the friendly matches scheduled against Tunisia on June 7 and Benin on June 10.

To compensate for these absences, Walid Regragui is expected to call up Hamza Hamiani, goalkeeper of AS FAR, to replace Yassine Bounou. Salaheddine Chihab, goalkeeper of Maghreb de Fès, would also be called up to replace Mehdi Benabid. Munir Mohamedi is thus expected to be the starting goalkeeper during this international break.

According to sources close to the matter, this approach is part of the Moroccan technical staff’s desire to observe and evaluate goalkeepers playing in the national championship. It is estimated that Hamza Hamiani has performed remarkably with AS FAR this season, both in the Moroccan championship and in the African Champions League. The stated objective is to broaden the panel of options for the goalkeeper position in view of upcoming international events, particularly the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.

The two friendly matches against Tunisia and Benin will therefore serve as a preparatory stage for the 2025 AFCON. They will also represent an opportunity to evaluate the technical qualities and adaptation to the international level of the goalkeepers newly integrated into the national team.