Maroc Foot: Ouahbi Names 28-Player List with Fresh Call‑Ups Ahead of Ecuador and Paraguay Tests
The national team announcement has injected fresh debate into maroc foot circles: Mohamed Ouahbi has summoned 28 players for two March friendlies meant as preparation for the 2026 World Cup. The list, unveiled at a press conference at the Complexe Mohammed VI de football, includes multiple first-time call-ups and a mix of established internationals and recent U20 world champions, setting a clear direction for the coaching staff in the coming weeks.
Maroc Foot squad composition and notable first-time selections
Ouahbi named a balanced 28-player roster for the friendlies against Ecuador and Paraguay, scheduled in Madrid and Lens on March 27 and March 31 respectively. The call-up comprises three goalkeepers, ten defenders, seven midfielders and eight attackers. Goalkeepers selected are El Mehdi Benabid, Yassine Bounou and El Mehdi Al Harrar. Defenders total ten names, including Achraf Hakimi and Noussair Mazraoui alongside recent additions.
The list is marked by several first-time senior convocations: Redouane Halhal of KV Malines, Issa Diop of Fulham, Samir El Mourabet of Strasbourg and Mohamed Rabie Hrimat, captain of AS FAR. The squad also features U20 world champions Ismaël Baouf, Yassir Zabiri and Yassine Gessime, signalling an opening for youth integration at senior level.
Tactical balance, depth and the signals from the roster
At face value the roster reflects a strategic blend: three keepers provide standard coverage, a deep pool of ten defenders suggests readiness to rotate across wide and central positions, and eight forwards offer options for varied attacking profiles. Midfield selections bridge experience and youth with names such as Azzedine Ounahi paired with newcomers who earned promotion from youth competitions.
Specific inclusions underline particular narratives in maroc foot planning. The first senior call-ups for players active in different club environments—KV Malines, Fulham, Strasbourg and AS FAR—indicate a scouting emphasis on both domestic leadership and players tested in varied European leagues. The presence of three U20 world champions further points to deliberate succession planning ahead of the World Cup preparations.
Preparation timeline, World Cup context and what comes next
The friendlies in Madrid and Lens form part of the team’s immediate preparation for the 2026 World Cup, where Morocco has been drawn in Group C alongside Brazil, Scotland and Haiti. The two matches will be the first practical assessments of Ouahbi’s wider squad choices ahead of tournament planning, offering opportunities to test new combinations and to evaluate the readiness of first-time call-ups in a senior environment.
Mohamed Ouahbi, national team coach, announced the roster at the Complexe Mohammed VI de football and will use the coming international window to finalize assessments. With a 28-player pool that mixes experience, domestic leadership and youth success stories, the selection raises questions about match-by-match rotation and how quickly new entrants can assimilate into established systems.
Will the integration of U20 world champions and first-time call-ups accelerate the team’s cohesion or require longer-term management from the coaching staff—an operational challenge that will shape maroc foot prospects as the World Cup approaches?
