Following their strong performances in the run-up to the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, the International Football Federation (FIFA) has stated that five Moroccan players should be closely monitored.
The Atlas Lions were drawn together in Group F countries, alongside Croatia, Belgium, and Canada.
The national team is set to face off Croatia first on November 23, then Belgium on November 27, and Canada on December 1.
The following is the list of the five selected players :
Yassine Bounou, 31, goalkeeper
Winner of the Zamora trophy, which rewards the best goalkeeper of the season in Spanish La Liga, the Sevilla goalkeeper beat out a number of renowned specialists in the position, including Thibaut Courtois, Jan Oblak and Marc-Andre Ter Stegen.
Since his first appearance in 2018, he has gone from strength to strength. At 31, he will certainly be called upon to play a leading role against the Belgian, Croatian or Canadian stars, despite a difficult start to the season in the league and Champions League.
Although he is about to play in his first World Cup as a starter, Bounou has already won 43 caps for Morocco in all competitions.
Bounou has conceded just 22 goals for the Atlas Lions, keeping 26 clean sheets. He has also proved his worth in La Liga, averaging 2.5 saves per game, and a 76% success rate.
Romain Saïss, 32, center-back
At 32, Saïss remains a key player in the Moroccan national team, both in terms of his performance and his role as a driving force.
On the pitch, he stands out for his sense of anticipation and his formidable efficiency in duels. He is a formidable aerial player and also provides valuable cover for his left-back.
He has made 63 appearances for the Atlas Lions since the start of his international career in 2012. However, he had to wait until 2016 to make his first appearance with the national team, of which he has since become one of the pillars.
He has made 60 appearances for the national team and has helped keep the Moroccan goal on 35 occasions.
Achraf Hakimi, 23, right back
The Paris Saint-Germain full-back has remarkable international experience for a player of his age. Trained at Real Madrid, he reached the 50-cap mark last June in South Africa. He celebrated his 51st cap for the Atlas Lions against Liberia in the same game.
“Blessed with immense talent, the most expensive defender in Ligue 1 history has the mentality to match. After finding game time hard to come by at the Santiago Bernabeu, the youngster had no qualms about heading abroad after securing a loan move to Borussia Dortmund,” said FIFA.
Herve Renard was the first to put his faith in him, when he was only 17 years, 11 months, and seven days old.
This early start has made him the second youngest player in the history of the Moroccan national team after Hachim Mastour, who never played for the national team afterward.
The most expensive defender in the history of the French Ligue 1 is not lacking in character either. In need of playing time at Real, he did not hesitate to leave Spain to join Borussia Dortmund on loan.
Sofyan Amrabat, 25, midfielder
An international since March 2017, the Fiorentina player’s rise to prominence was slowed by a series of injuries that kept him out of action for months.
Since the end of 2019, however, he has been racking up minutes for the national team, to the point where he is now considered a vital cog in the midfield.
Amrabat sometimes struggles to impose himself in duels. Combined with the rise of Lucas Torreira, this probably explains his status as a substitute at the end of last season.
Nevertheless, his ability to slow down opposing attacks, cut off passing lines and close down spaces makes him a real added value in the Moroccan system. He also brings a touch of diversity with his deep passes and long-range shots.
Regragui will certainly be relying on him to help the Atlas Lions overcome the challenges that lie ahead in Group F.
Sofiane Boufal, 28, left winger
Since making his international debut under Herve Renard in 2016 at the age of 22, Boufal has played a key role in the national team.
While he was not part of the 2018 trip to Russia, the Angers winger has recently become a vital part of the Moroccan national team. His three goals at the 2022 CAF Africa Cup of Nations prove that, despite the quarter-final exit to Egypt.
Boufal is the perfect example of a modern winger: a dribbler and a striker, he can also play as a center-forward.
At the same time, he does not hesitate to put himself at the service of others, through his generosity in effort and replacement.
Injured at the end of last season, he started the current season with a bang and offered his team some precious points, notably against Montpellier. The future opponents of the Atlas Lions in Qatar are warned: Boufal is in great shape.
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