WCQ: Barca’s Ezzalzouli Included In Vahid’s 26-man Squad To Pit Congo

Present at a presser on Thursday, Morocco coach Vahid Halilhodzic unveiled his list of 26 players selected to face DR Congo in the 2022 World Cup play-offs on March 25 and 29.

In the absence of Hakim Ziyech and Noussair Mazraoui, who reporterdly denied to return to the selection on Sunday, the list is marked by the presence of Abdessamad Ezzalzouli of Barca.

Having been sidelined for most parts of this season with FC Barcelona, the 20-year-old winger would have made his AFCON debut, but he preferred more time — due to pressure from his club, a scenario which prevented Coach Vahid from having him.

Benfica man Adel Taarabt is missing due to injury, and Aymen Barkok of Eintracht Frankfurt doesn’t make the list due to lack of game time.

There’s the presence of two local based players including: Wydad’s Yahia Attiyat Allah ( 27), called up for the first time, and experienced WAC midfielder Yahya Jabrane (30), who makes his return for the first time since June 2021.

Absent from the AFCON, central defender Jawad El Yamiq (Real Valladolid) equally makes his return.

For the rest of the names, it’s classic with regulars like; Yassine Bounou, Romain Saïss, Achraf Hakim, Imran Louza and Youssef En-Nesyri.