Hakim Ziyech and Noussair Mazraoui are part of the 26-man squad of the Moroccan national team for the World Cup. They wouldn’t have thought that half a year ago.
At the end of September, both former Ajax players only made their return to the national team after a long absence. The absence was due to a conflict with former national team coach Vahid Halilhodzic, who accused them of unprofessional behavior. Under the new national coach Walid Regragui they got another chance.
It is striking that Ryan Mmaee and Ayoub El Kaabi, the past two regularly playing and easily scoring attackers, did not make the selection. Nayef Aguerd, defender of West Ham United, is there this season despite long injuries. Also keep an eye out for the talented 18-year-old Bilal El Khannous van Genk, who is among the best 26.
Three other eye-catchers: Sofyan Amrabat, born in Blaricum and with a football past at FC Utrecht and Feyenoord, Achraf Hakimi, the right back in the star ensemble of PSG, and Zakaria Aboukhlal.
