Mohamed Ouahbi leaves Sofyan Amrabat out of Morocco squad

Sofyan Amrabat has been left out of Morocco’s latest squad after saying he would withdraw from the national team while Mohamed Ouahbi remained coach. The decision has widened the disagreement between the midfielder and the manager, who has rejected the idea that established players should receive preferential treatment.

Ouahbi selected 29 players for Morocco’s next international window, with Amrabat not included. The coach said the midfielder had not accepted losing the prominent role he previously occupied as competition for places grew stronger. The rise of Ayyoub Bouaddi has added another option in midfield and contributed to a revised order within the squad.

The manager said a player’s previous contribution deserves recognition but cannot guarantee future selection. He also insisted that no position is permanently secured, making Amrabat’s omission part of a broader selection policy rather than an exception for a senior international. Morocco will therefore begin the next window without the midfielder while Ouahbi assesses a group built around current competition for places.

Despite the public disagreement, Ouahbi has not ruled out Amrabat’s return. He said the door remained open to every player, leaving the midfielder with a route back into the Atlas Lions squad. Any comeback would come within a hierarchy that has changed under the new coach, however, with past status no longer enough to ensure selection.