World Cup 2026 (Q): Morocco's roster features several new faces

The head coach of Morocco's Lions, Walid Regragui, unveiled this Friday, March 14, the list of players selected for the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, where the Moroccan squad will face Niger (March 21) and Tanzania (March 25) in Oujda. While the core remains unchanged, several new players have joined the team.

A promising youth

Among the new faces, Bilal Nadir (21 years old), long courted by France and Algeria, has finally chosen Morocco, driven by his strong performances with OM.

Hamza Igamane, who scored 13 goals with Glasgow Rangers, is also called up for the first time despite a recent dip in form.

Meanwhile, Chemsedine Talbi (FC Bruges), who turned down Belgium, is ready to make his debut in the Lions' jersey.

Omar El Hilali, another newcomer

Right-back for Espanyol Barcelona, Omar El Hilali (21 years old) also joins the squad after dismissing the Spanish option. He will face stiff competition from Hakimi and Mazraoui.

Notable returns and absences

Jawad El Yamiq (Al-Wehda) returns after more than a year away to bolster the defense.

In attack, Amine Adli (Bayer Leverkusen) also makes his comeback. However, Saïss, Riyad, El Kaabi, El Azzouzi, and Akhomach are out.

Finally, Hakim Ziyech, despite performing well in Qatar, has not been recalled and may have permanently closed the chapter on the national team.

Below is the full list of selected players:

Amine Jomni |

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African football writer and sports journalist covering football news, stories and insights while sharing his expertise with fans across the continent.