Morocco coach Mohamed Wahbi defends squad choices and updates injured players

Morocco coach Mohamed Wahbi has defended his selection decisions, explaining Yusuf En-Nesyri’s return to the squad and insisting playing time at club level is not the only factor in choosing players.

The Atlas Lions will face Niger on 13 and 17 November in the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers during their November camp.

Wahbi also discussed Brahim Diaz’s limited opportunities at Real Madrid and provided an update on the fitness of Ez Abde? Need exact injury names: Azzedine Ounahi, Ismael Saibari, Sofiane Rahimi and Ayoub El Kaabi. We must keep official names unchanged? Source transliteration names. Use Azzedine Ounahi, Ismael Saibari, Sofiane Rahimi, Ayoub El Kaabi. En-Nesyri official widely Youssef En-Nesyri. “Brahim Diaz” official perhaps Brahim Diaz, but requirement keep names exactly officially used. Source says براهيم دياز = Brahim Diaz. Use Brahim Diaz. “Youssef En-Nesyri” accepted.

En-Nesyri return

Wahbi said En-Nesyri had remained under consideration despite missing recent international camps, with Morocco’s technical staff monitoring him throughout his time at Al-Ittihad.

“En-Nesyri is in our extended squad and we have followed him continuously, like all the players, from the beginning,” Wahbi said, as reported by Moroccan outlet Albotola.

“We watched all his matches with Al-Ittihad, whether in the AFC Champions League, the cup or the league. We make sure to watch his matches every week. He has not been absent from our monitoring from the outset.”

He added that Morocco had previously chosen forwards with characteristics similar to those used at the last World Cup, but now believed En-Nesyri could offer something different, particularly against Niger.

Playing time not the only measure

Wahbi rejected criticism of selecting players who are not regular starters for their clubs, saying minutes played cannot be the sole basis for international selection.

“If choosing players meant simply searching online for their number of minutes and selecting those with the most, then there would be no need for me in this position,” he said.

The coach said tactical suitability, balance and the team’s identity were also important.

“We have a clear tactical approach and know how we want to play, regardless of the identity of the opponent,” he said.

Using Noussair Mazraoui as an example, Wahbi argued that limited club involvement had not reduced the defender’s value to Morocco.

“Look at his matches with the national team. If you say that fewer appearances for his club mean he no longer has the level required to represent Morocco, I cannot answer that argument, with all due respect,” he said.

Mazraoui, he added, had performed well for Morocco across different competitions and had consistently justified the coach’s confidence.

Diaz and injury update

Wahbi said Brahim Diaz wanted more playing time at Real Madrid, but understood the competition at one of the world’s best clubs. He said Diaz remained highly motivated when joining Morocco and hoped strong international performances would help him earn more opportunities in Spain.

Regarding the injured quartet, Wahbi said he remained in contact with them and was confident they would return stronger. He could not give precise recovery dates, noting that even doctors found it difficult to predict rehabilitation periods.

Some could return in March, he said, while the staff continued to monitor their progress. Injuries, he added, required Morocco to find alternatives and gave new players a chance to compete, but he remained confident Azzedine Ounahi, Ismael Saibari, Sofiane Rahimi and Ayoub El Kaabi would be fit before the Africa Cup of Nations.