Morocco has issued a late call-up to Villarreal winger Ilias Akhomach ahead of its 2027 AFCON qualifying opener against Gabon on September 25, 2026, in Rabat.
The federation did not publicly identify which player would make room for Akhomach. Reports suggested Brahim Díaz could be the player left out due to physical problems, though this was not officially confirmed.
Reports suggested Brahim Díaz could be the player left out due to physical problems, though this was not officially confirmed.
The call-up followed a strong run of form at club level. The 22-year-old started Villarreal’s previous two La Liga matches and recorded assists in both, setting up a goal in a 3-1 win over Málaga before doing the same three days later in a 3-1 victory over Levante, assisting Alberto Moleiro. Across the 2026-27 season, Akhomach has made six La Liga appearances, two of them starts, with two assists to his name.
Born in Catalonia, Spain, near Barcelona, Akhomach chose to represent Morocco internationally rather than Spain. He has earned 13 caps for the senior national team but has yet to score his first international goal. His most recent appearance came during the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, where he featured as a substitute against Zambia in the group stage, Nigeria in the semi-final, and Senegal in the final. He was left out of Ouahbi’s squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Fellow attacker Eliesse Ben Seghir has also emerged as part of Morocco’s growing pool of young attacking talent in recent seasons.
Morocco will open its 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign against Gabon on Friday, September 25, 2026, at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat. The match marks Morocco’s first competitive fixture under Ouahbi since the World Cup. A second qualifier follows on September 29 in Bloemfontein against Lesotho.
Akhomach’s inclusion adds another wide attacking option for Ouahbi, joining forwards such as Abdessamad Ezzalzouli, Soufiane Rahimi, and Yassine Gessime. His recent creative output at club level, paired with match sharpness from consecutive starts, contributed directly to his late invitation ahead of a demanding qualifying schedule.
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