Morocco is going to the World Cup with huge baggage of expectations, because the previous World Cup changed the status of this national team. The fourth place meant that the “Lions of Atlas” were no longer treated as a curiosity of the tournament, but started as a team capable of playing with the best. Now Mohamed Ouahbi has shown who he will trust in the fight for another great result.

Morocco wants more after the historic World Cup

The Moroccan national team wrote one of the most important stories in African football during the previous edition of the World Cup. The team reached the semi-finals and ultimately finished the tournament in fourth place. No African team has ever been so high in the World Cup before, which is why that result remains a reference point for fans, players and the entire football community in the country.

However, such great success also changed the scale of pressure. Moroccans no longer go to the tournament only with the hope of getting out of the group. Many fans expect that the team will be able to compete with the favorites again and maybe even improve their previous achievement. This task will be extremely difficult because since then there has been an important change on the coaching bench. Walid Regragui finished working with the national team, and Mohamed Ouahbi took over the responsibility for the team.

Mohamed Ouahbi has selected the squad for the World Cup

The new coach had to make decisions that would be widely commented on. The team included many players known from the best leagues in Europe, as well as players who have been Morocco’s strength for years. The list includes Yassine Bounou, Achraf Hakimi, Sofyan Amrabat, Abde Ezzalzouli, Ayoub El Kaabi and Brahim Diaz. These are names that give the team quality, experience and opportunities in various phases of the game.

Also interesting is the presence of players who could have waited for a chance in the French national team, but ultimately chose Morocco. It’s about Ayyoub Bouaddi and Issa Diop. Their appointments show that the federation is still effective in attracting players with dual international opportunities. For Ouahbi, this is an important reinforcement, because the World Cup requires a wide squad, ready for various scenarios and intensity of matches.

Who will Morocco play with in the group?

Morocco is in a group with Brazil, Haiti and Scotland. The biggest challenge will, of course, be the match against Brazil, but the other two matches may also prove to be demanding. With such rivals, the start of the tournament, defensive discipline and the effectiveness of offensive players will be crucial, because the margin of error at the World Cup can be very small.

Ouahbi has a team with great potential, but also with a clear obligation to confirm previous success. The previous result means that Morocco will no longer be able to benefit from the surprise effect to the same extent as before. The rivals know that this is a well-organized team, physically strong and dangerous when attacking.

Morocco’s squad for the World Cup

Goalkeepers:

• Yassine Bounou and Al-Hilal,
• Munir El Kajoui z RS Berkane,
• Ahmed Reda Tagnaouti z FAR Rabat.

Defenders:

• Noussair Mazraoui of Manchester United,
• Anass Salah-Eddine from PSV Eindhoven,
• Mohamed Belammari and Al-Ahly,
• Achraf Hakimi from PSG,
• Nayef Aguerd from Olympique Marseille,
• Chadi Riad of Crystal Palace,
• Redouane Halhal from KV Mechelen,
• Issa Diop from Fulham.

Helpers:

• Samir El Mourabet from Strasbourg,
• Ayyoub Bouaddi z Lille,
• Neil El Aynaoui z AS Romy,
• Sofyan Amrabat from Fenerbahce,
• Azzedine Ounahi from Girona,
• Bilal El Khannouss from Stuttgart,
• Ismael Saibari from PSV Eindhoven,
• Chemsdine Talbi z Sunderland,
• Abde Ezzalzouli from Real Betis.

Attackers:

• Soufiane Rahimi and Al-Ain,
• Ayoub El Kaabi of Olympiacos,
• Brahim Diaz from Real Madrid,
• Gessime Yassine ze Strasbourg,
• Ayoube Amaimouni-Echghouyab of Eintracht Frankfurt.

Substitutes:

• Amine Sbaï z Angers,
• El Mehdi Al Harrar z Raja Club Athletic,
• Marwane Saadane z Al-Fateh.

The pressure will be greater than ever

Morocco’s biggest challenge may not be the level of its rivals, but the expectations that arose after the previous World Cup. The fourth place meant that each subsequent tournament would be judged through the prism of that success. Ouahbi took over the team at a difficult time, because he must at the same time respect the foundations built earlier and introduce his own ideas.

The list of those called up suggests that the coach does not intend to make a revolution where it is not necessary. He focused on recognized figures, but also added players who can give the team freshness. Morocco has quality, recognizable names and experience from the previous major tournament. Now he must show that the historic result was not a one-off, but the beginning of a new stage.