Sofyan Amrabat unavailable for Morocco national team under Ouahbi

Sofyan Amrabat has made himself unavailable for the Morocco national team while Mohamed Ouahbi remains in charge. The 30-year-old midfielder announced the decision in a message published on Instagram, bringing an immediate rupture between one of the Atlas Lions’ most experienced players and the current head coach.

Amrabat said the decision had been difficult, but that he no longer felt able to continue representing Morocco under Ouahbi. He did not identify a specific incident or explain the exact reasons for the disagreement. Instead, he said he preferred to keep those details private out of respect for the national team and everyone involved.

“Cette décision a été très difficile à prendre, mais je ne me sens pas capable de continuer à représenter l'équipe nationale sous la direction de l'actuel sélectionneur,” Amrabat wrote. In English, he said that the decision was very difficult, but that he did not feel capable of continuing to represent the national team under the current coach.

The midfielder also made clear that his announcement is not a retirement from international football. He said he was choosing to make himself unavailable for the national team for as long as Ouahbi stayed in the position, while keeping the door open to a return with Morocco. His decision is therefore conditional on the coach’s continued presence rather than a final withdrawal from the Atlas Lions.

The timing follows the 2026 World Cup, where Amrabat’s role was significantly reduced. A player who had previously been accustomed to an important place in Morocco’s midfield spent the tournament as a substitute. The change in his status came after years in which he had been one of the central figures in the national team.

Amrabat was a major part of Morocco’s historic run at the 2022 World Cup. That campaign established the Atlas Lions as the first African team to reach the semi-finals of the competition, and Amrabat was among the players associated most closely with that achievement. His importance to the side has also been reflected in his 78 international appearances.

His current club is identified as Ajax, where he plays in midfield. At international level, however, his immediate future is now linked to the relationship between the player and Ouahbi. The absence of a public explanation beyond Amrabat’s statement leaves the underlying dispute undisclosed, while the player’s wording sets a clear condition for any possible return.

The announcement creates a significant selection issue for Morocco. The team may have to prepare for upcoming international commitments without a midfielder with extensive experience and a prominent role in its recent history. At the same time, Amrabat’s refusal to close the door completely means the situation remains reversible if the circumstances around the coaching position change. For now, the 78-cap midfielder will not represent Morocco under Mohamed Ouahbi.