Amrabat sidelined on merit, Ouahbi leaves door open

Mohamed Ouahbi broke his silence on Sofyan Amrabat’s situation on Thursday, as he announced his 29-man squad for Morocco’s 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Gabon and Lesotho. The midfielder had announced he was suspending his international career as long as Ouahbi remained Morocco’s coach, after seeing his playing time decrease in favor of younger players.

Faced with journalists’ questions, the coach chose appeasement over confrontation. “He has given a lot for the national team, he is part of our recent history. We must not forget that or take it away from him. I understand his disappointment, it is not easy to have a status and be deprived of playing time because young players are arriving,” he said, before adding: “There is no conflict between him and me or the staff.”

On the substance of his sporting choices, Ouahbi did not waver. “In football, the past gives you respect but not privilege. My guiding principle is meritocracy,” insisted the former Anderlecht assistant. A firm stance that explains the sidelining of the player with 78 caps, whose playing time at club level had also declined in recent months.

The coach nonetheless left the door slightly ajar for a return. “The door is not closed and there is no guaranteed place,” he clarified, signaling that Amrabat remains eligible for selection if he regains sufficient playing level. This conciliatory message dispels, at least temporarily, the specter of a power struggle between the two men that could have weakened Morocco’s national team ahead of important qualifying fixtures.