Ajax Amsterdam forward Abdellah Ouazane received his first senior call-up to Morocco’s squad under Mohamed Ouahbi, initially missing his name under midfielders before finding it listed among the forwards.
Ouazane’s first instinct was to search for his name among the midfielders, the position he has typically occupied during his development. When he could not find it there, he briefly assumed his senior debut would have to wait. The disappointment lasted only a few moments.
He looked for his name among the midfielders first, and for a moment, thought his debut would have to wait.
Scanning further down the list, he discovered his name among the forwards. The classification does not necessarily reflect the position he will play in matches, but the discovery shifted his mood from concern to excitement, confirming his inclusion in Morocco’s senior squad for the first time.
His first reaction was to call his mother. Ouazane described the feeling as incredible and said he was ready to give everything for Morocco. His call-up echoes the emergence of other young Moroccan talents, such as Azzedine Ounahi, who rose through the ranks to become a key figure for the national team.
The call-up follows a breakthrough season with Ajax Amsterdam. Ouazane made his Eredivisie debut as a substitute against PEC Zwolle, playing 73 minutes, before earning a starting role against Heerenveen.
Ouahbi had reportedly been tracking Ouazane closely, even traveling to Amsterdam to watch him in person. The selection fits a broader pattern of the coach introducing uncapped players as he looks to refresh the national team with emerging talent.
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