Morocco unveil list of players they hope to win African Cup of Nations
Morocco have revealed one of their best-kept secrets in recent months: the list of players they hope to use to win the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (CAN), which will be held from 13 January to 11 February 2024 in Côte d'Ivoire.
The Atlas Lions are drawn in Group F alongside the Democratic Republic of Congo, Zambia and Tanzania, so their passage to the round of 16 of the tournament is presumed to be certain and then begin the crossings that will make them lift this title for the second time in their history. The first was in 1976 and their best result was in 2004 when they finished runners-up to hosts Tunisia. At the last event in 2021, Morocco lost 2-1 to Egypt in the quarter-finals in a match that went to extra time.
The 27 players called up by Regragui are:
Goalkeepers
- Yassine Bono
- Munir Mohamedi
- El Mehdi Benabid
Defenders
- Achraf Hakimi
- Noussair Mazraoui
- Yahya Attiat Allah
- Aguerd
- Roman Saiss
- Yunis Abdelhamid
- Chadi Riad
- Abdel Abqar
- Mohamed Chibi
Midfielders
- Amir Richardson
- Sofyan Amrabat
- Oussama El Azzouzi
- Selim Amallah
- Bilal El Khannouss
- Azzedine Ounahi
- Ismael Saibari
- Amine Harit
Forwards
- Hakim Ziyech
- Amine Adli
- Abde
- Sofiane Boufal
- Tarik Tissoudali
- En-Nesyri
- El Kaabi
On 3 January, the final list of up to 27 players is due to be submitted, as has been the case in recent tournaments organised by FIFA and UEFA.
Among the most prominent players in the Moroccan squad are goalkeeper Bono (Al-Hilal Saudi Arabia), Sofiane Boufal (Al-Rayyan S.C.), Achraf Hakimi (PSG), Noussair Mazraoui (Bayern Munich), and Amine Harit (Olympique Marseille). These are some of the players who will have to maintain the high level they showed at the World Cup in Qatar after their fourth place finish, where they played football that many fans loved.
Two of the most important absentees are El Yamiq (Al-Wehda) and Cheddira (Frosinone), who Regragui is not counting on for this tournament after being regulars in Morocco's last call-ups, including those to the World Cup in Qatar.
The Spanish clubs will not be able to count on the players called up to the Morocco squad between 6 January and 11 February if any of them reach the final. This is the case for Chadi Riad and Abde (Betis), Abdel Abqar (Alavés), Selim Amallah (Valencia) and Youssef En-Nesyri (Sevilla). In all cases, the departures are very important due to the relevance of the players in their teams.
The 2023 CAN takes on greater relevance for Morocco on the road to the 2030 World Cup, which it will host alongside Spain and Portugal, because in 2025, Morocco and its majestic stadium in Casablanca will host the next Africa Cup of Nations.