Ayyoub Bouaddi, Mohamed Ouahbi, and Ayoub El Kaabi. (L’Équipe/Presse Sports)
To replicate their historic run at the 2022 World Cup, where Morocco reached the semifinals, the Atlas Lions and their new head coach, Mohamed Ouahbi, must make decisive adjustments. Here are the three burning questions surrounding the team.
**Will Ayyoub Bouaddi Finally Choose Morocco?**
This is the biggest question. After months of deliberation between France and Morocco, will the 18-year-old Lille midfielder commit to the Atlas Lions just before the tournament? Moroccan fans are hopeful, as the federation has been courting him. In mid-March, Ouahbi traveled to Lille to meet Bouaddi. Meanwhile, France sent a strong signal by naming him captain of the U-21 team in a 5-1 win over Luxembourg on March 26. Local media report that Bouaddi is on a preliminary 55-man list submitted to FIFA for the World Cup. If he opts for Morocco, he would likely partner with Younès El Aynaoui in a double pivot. Speaking to Téléfoot, Bouaddi said, “It’s an important career choice, I don’t want to rush it. It has to come naturally and spontaneously.” The final squad list will reveal his decision.
**Questions in the Defensive Line**
This is a hot topic. Like at the last Africa Cup of Nations, Ouahbi faces the same puzzle as his predecessor Walid Regragui: finding the best center-back pairing. With Romain Saïss retired, Nayef Aguerd and Jawad El Yamiq injured, and Adam Masina without a club after terminating his contract with Torino, the coach is short of experienced defenders. Morocco pragmatically called up Issa Diop for the first time—he previously vowed he would only play for France. Now 29, he impressed in his first two appearances against Ecuador (1-1) and Paraguay (2-1). Despite limited playing time with Fulham, he’s a starter. Aguerd’s fitness is a concern; he left Marseille to rehab in Morocco, hoping to be ready for the World Cup. Other options like Abdelhamid Aït Boudlal, Chadi Riad, and Redouane Halhal are inexperienced, as is Ismaël Baouf. Morocco’s strength lies in versatile players like Noussair Mazraoui, who can play left-back or center-back, allowing Anass Salah-Eddine to occupy the left flank. Ouahbi must find the right chemistry in a defensive unit that was the team’s backbone in Qatar.
**El Kaabi Has the Edge, En-Nesyri in Danger**
With Brahim Diaz leading the attack at the AFCON, Ouahbi’s team may feature a mobile striker. In this setup, Ayoub El Kaabi of Olympiakos has the advantage and is the likely starter. That could mean Youcef En-Nesyri, with 25 goals in 92 caps, might miss the trip to North America. En-Nesyri was not called up for the March camp. Hamza Igamane, who could have been the number one, is out with an ACL injury. However, the next generation is ready. Yanis Begraoui has impressed with Estoril (20 goals in 33 matches), and Tawfik Bentayeb, top scorer in Ligue 2 with 18 goals for Troyes, is a surprise contender.
