Riyadh newspaper Al-Rakraki adds four new faces to Moroccan national team squad
Al-Rakraki Includes Four New Faces for the Moroccan National Team List
The new list of the Moroccan national football team, announced by coach Walid Al-Rakraki, included 4 new players.
New Faces Join the Atlas Lions
Morocco, Niger and Tanzania, in the honorary stadium in Oujda, east of the Kingdom, is preparing on March 21 and 25, in the fifth and sixth rounds, respectively, from the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.
Al-Rakraki invited Bilal Nadir, the French Olympic player Marseille, Shams Al-Din Al-Talbi, from the Belgian Club Bruges, Hamza Ighan from the Scottish Glasgow Rangers, and Omar Al-Hilali, the Spanish player Espanyol, to join the new assembly of the (Atlas Lions).
Coach’s Justification
The coach of the national team justified these options with the need to experience new players to compensate for the injured or whose level has declined recently in order to expand the circle of choices before the final list will be decided on the African Nations Cup, which will be held in Morocco next December.
Players Who Missed Out
The last list did not include a group of players, most notably Hakim Ziyash, and the Egyptian and Zamalek players, who were absent at one time for the first time, and he avoided talking about them in the press conference, while justifying the absence of Zayash in his need to restore his artistic level and physical fitness and play more matches before joining the lions list.
Coach’s Views
Al-Rakraki expressed his pride in facing his former coach, Badou Al-Zaki, who oversees the training of the Niger team, where he said: “I am happy with this confrontation that brings together Moroccan coaches. Zaki is one of the legends of Moroccan football and I learned a lot from him when I was playing in the team under his supervision.”
Defensive Concerns
Al-Rakraki admitted the problem raised in the middle of the defense due to the absence of alternatives to compensate Nayef Akard in the event of his injury, considering that he works with the rest of the technical staff to find solutions in the coming months.
Dual Nationalities
Al-Rakraki again touched on the issue of dual nationalities, specifically the cases of Neil Al-Ainawi, and Issa Diop, the French players and Fulham, respectively.
“I previously spoke with Neil a year ago and expressed his need for more time to ensure his official position in his team and the door is open to him, but the competition is strong and I will not guarantee him to be in the future,” Al-Rakraki said in this regard.
He continued, “As for Jesus, I have never contacted him and did not seek a desire yet to play for Morocco, and as I said earlier, I will not seek anyone who wants to represent our country must be convinced, enthusiastic and decisive in his decision.”
Conclusion
The new list of the Moroccan national team includes 25 players, with the possibility of additional changes before the African Nations Cup. The coach is working to improve the team’s performance, including finding solutions to defensive issues and addressing the issue of dual nationalities.
FAQs
Q: Who are the new players included in the Moroccan national team list?
A: Bilal Nadir, Shams Al-Din Al-Talbi, Hamza Ighan, and Omar Al-Hilali.
Q: Why were the new players invited to join the team?
A: To compensate for the injured or declining level of some players, to expand the circle of choices before the African Nations Cup.
Q: Who are the players who missed out on the new list?
A: Hakim Ziyash and the Egyptian and Zamalek players.
Q: What is the current standing of the Moroccan national team in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers?
A: Morocco leads the fifth group with 9 points from three wins, with five teams in the group after Eritrea’s withdrawal.