Morocco has included Chelsea forward Hakim Ziyech in its squad for the World Cup in Qatar, with Paris Saint-Germain’s Achraf Hakimi and Noussir Mazraoui of Bayern Munich also included.
Ziyech, who had called it a day on the international stage in February 2022, returns to the Lions of Atlas when coach Walid Regragui named his 26-man squad on Thursday.
Noussair Mazraoui will also return to the squad, having been dismissed by former coach Halilhodzic in August.
Regragui has put faith in most of the players who represented the country at the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations – where they were eliminated from the quarter-finals.
Wolves defender Romain Saiss will captain the squad that also another returnee Abderrazak Hamdallah (Ittihad FC), who publicly apologized for having slammed the door at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations.
Little-known midfielder Bilal El Khannouss,who is based is Belgium is the surprise inclusion in the Regragui’s star stunned squad.
Morocco will open their World Cup group stage campaign against 2018 World Cup runner-up Croatia on Nov. 23 before facing 2018 semifinalist Belgium and then Canada in Group F.
Full squad:
Goalkeepers: Yassine Bounou (Sevilla), Munir Mohamedi (Al Wehda), Ahmed Reda Tagnaouti (Wydad AC).
Defenders: Achraf Hakimi (PSG), Noussair Mazraoui (Bayern Munich), Roman Saiss (Besiktas), Nayef Aguerd (West Ham), Jawad El Yamiq (Real Valladolid), Achraf Dari(Brest), Yahia Attiat – Allal(Wydad), Badr Benoun(Qatar SC).
Midfielders: Sofyan Amrabat (Fiorentina), Selim Amallah (Standard Liege), Azzedine Ounahi (Angers), Abdelhamid Sabiri(Sampdoria), Yahya Jabrane(Wydad), Bilel El(Genk).
Forwards: Hakim Ziyech (Chelsea), Youssef En-Nesyri (Sevilla), Abde Ezzalzouli (Osasuna), Walid Cheddira( SSC Bari), Amine Harit(OM), Ilaias Chair(QPR), Sofiane Boufal(Angers), Abderrazak Hamdallah(Al- Ittihad).
