Yassir Zabiri knocks on the door of Walid Regragui

The author of a brace against Argentina (2-0) in the U20 World Cup final, Yassir Zabiri finished as the top scorer of the competition. The young striker from Famalicao (Portugal) hopes to be called up by Walid Regragui to take part in the AFCON Morocco 2025 with the Atlas Lions, from December 21, 2025 to January 18, 2026. "Honestly, I feel ready today, but the selections do not depend on me: they depend on the coach Regragui," he confides in an interview with AS.

And he adds: "The final decision belongs to him. He spoke to us after the U20 World Cup, telling us to go back to our clubs, to continue playing there as starters, and that he could call us at any time. I want to score with my club and show Walid my abilities. Because having a good U20 World Cup does not guarantee that we have the required level for the national team."

Hugo Oliveira, Famalicao’s coach, has not called on Yassir Zabiri much this season. The Atlas Lion cub has only six appearances, two of them as a starter. This lack of regularity in the club could block his call-up to the national team. But the young player remains confident. "I don’t consider the national team as something distant. I know the players, they are like my brothers, and I wouldn’t change my personality if they called me."

He continues: "Who doesn’t dream of playing an Africa Cup of Nations in their own country? It’s something very important, and we want to win the title. That’s the main goal. Whether I’m there or not, the important thing is that Morocco wins the cup..." The native of Marrakech also dreams of joining a big Liga club. "I love La Liga. When I was a child, I was a Barça fan and I watched almost all the matches. It’s a very beautiful and spectacular football. All the teams are good. It’s not just Real or Barça, there’s Atlético and many others, who always fight to the maximum. It’s a very important league, with great historic clubs."