World Cup
Morocco’s Walid Regragui names four new players for World Cup qualifiers
Morocco head coach Walid Regragui has named four new players in his 26-man squad for the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Niger and Tanzania on March 21 and 25.
Bilal Nadir, Chemsedine Taibi, Hamza Igamane, and Omar El Hilali are among the new faces in the squad, as the Atlas Lions continue to integrate young talent into the national team.
While new players make their way in, two key names will be absent from the squad.
Hakim Ziyech and Ayoub El Kaabi have been ruled out due to injuries. Ziyech, one of Morocco’s most creative playmakers, and El Kaabi, a proven goal scorer, leave significant gaps in the squad, forcing Regragui to rethink his attacking options.
The squad also sees Jawad El Yamiq and goalkeeper El Mehdi Benabid returning after missing previous international matches.
Their comeback strengthens the team’s depth, particularly in defence and goalkeeping.
Morocco is currently leading Group E in the qualifiers and will be looking to extend their dominance as they edge closer to securing a place at the 2026 World Cup.
The Atlas Lions will play both matches in Oujda, taking advantage of home support as they seek six points to consolidate their position.
With the absence of Ziyech and El Kaabi, the attacking responsibility will fall on Youssef En-Nesyri, Soufiane Rahimi, Brahim Diaz, and Abdessamad Ezzalzouli.
After Morocco’s historic 2022 FIFA World Cup semi-final run, expectations remain high, and Regragui has maintained a balance between experienced leaders and emerging talents.
Key figures such as Achraf Hakimi, Sofyan Amrabat, Azzedine Ounahi, and Nayef Aguerd remain crucial to the squad’s ambitions.
With a strong squad and home advantage, Morocco is expected to dominate both matches, reinforcing their reputation as one of Africa’s strongest footballing nations
Morocco’s 26-Man Squad for World Cup Qualifiers
Goalkeepers: Yassine Bounou (Al Hilal), Munir El Kajoui (Al Wehda), El Mehdi Benabid (FUS Rabat).
Defenders: Achraf Hakimi (Paris Saint-Germain), Noussair Mazraoui (Bayern Munich), Nayef Aguerd (West Ham United), Jawad El Yamiq (Al-Wahda), Abdel Abqar (Deportivo Alavés), Jamal Harkass (AS FAR), Omar El Hilali (Espanyol), Adam Aznou (Bayern Munich U19).
Midfielders: Sofyan Amrabat (Manchester United), Azzedine Ounahi (Marseille), Ismael Saibari (PSV Eindhoven), Bilal El Khannouss (Genk), Oussama Targhalline (Le Havre), Bilal Nadir (Nice).
Forwards: Youssef En-Nesyri (Sevilla), Brahim Diaz (Real Madrid), Abdessamad Ezzalzouli (Real Betis), Amine Adli (Bayer Leverkusen), Soufiane Rahimi (Al Ain), Eliesse Ben Seghir (AS Monaco), Osame Sahraoui (Heerenveen), Hamza Igamane (Wydad AC), Chemsedine Taibi (FUS Rabat).
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The unavailability of Bayer Leverkusen attacker, Nathan Tella, from the 23-man squad of the Super Eagles that will face Rwanda on Friday has been welcomed in Rwanda.
Lead newspaper in the country, The New Times celebrated as the lead story on its sports page, the pulling out of Tella.
Tella was an unused substitute in Bayer Leverkusen’s UEFA Champions League defeat to Bayern Munich on Tuesday owing to injury.
Nigeria’s coach, Eric Chelle has promptly moved by calling up Jordan Torunarigha as a replacement.
Torunarigha, who plays for Gent in Belgium, is a son of former Shooting Stars player, Ojokojo Torunarigha.
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Former Senegal’s coach, now in charge of Libya’s team, Aliou Cissé has vowed to end Libya’s 12-year absence from major international tournaments.
Libya last qualified for an international tournament when the country featured at the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations.
Cisse, who guided Senegal to success at the 2021 edition played in Cameroon in 2022 has expressed confidence in his ability to lead the Mediterranean Knights back to the big stage.
He remarked at his official unveiling in Tripoli and highlighted his determination to transform Libya into a competitive force in African football.
He believes his experience can bring success to a Libyan side that has long struggled to qualify for major competitions.
“I am honoured to be here in Libya and excited about this challenge.
“The Libyan national team has talented players, and with the right approach, we can build a team capable of competing at the highest level,” Cissé said.
Libya has never qualified for a FIFA World Cup. Cissé is determined to change that, emphasizing that his appointment is about long-term development rather than short-term results.
Cissé’s tenure begins with two crucial 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
Libya, currently second in Group D with seven points—one behind leaders Cameroon—will face Angola on March 20 in Benghazi before traveling to Yaoundé to take on the Indomitable Lions on March 25.
Victory in these matches would put Libya in a strong position to qualify for the World Cup for the first time in its history.
“The support of the Libyan media and fans will be crucial. If we work together, we can achieve something special,” Cissé added.
Libya’s last major international success came in 2014 when they won the African Nations Championship (CHAN), a tournament for home-based players.
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World Cup
With Group C leaders, Rwanda playing back-to-back home games, 2026 World Cup qualifiers become tricky
Should the Super Eagles drop points in their next fixture against Rwanda in Kigali, they will face dreadful problems in the World Cup qualifiers.
A win for Rwanda will see the Group C leaders galloping away as they are privileged to have back-to-back home games.
After hosting Nigeria next Friday, Rwanda will again host Lesotho four days later as they target six points that could take their haul to 13 at the close of matchday 6.
Even the coach of Lesotho, Leslie Notsi is already anticipating this as he admitted that it will be tough to overcome Rwanda when the two sides go head-to-head.
Should Rwanda win that match, they would have achieved a double as they won the reciprocal duel, 1-0 last June.
“Rwanda are leading the group. They have also played very well, winning against the best, against South Africa and Nigeria (in AFCON qualifiers),” Notsi reportedly remarked in a report in Rwanda’s leading newspaper, The New Times.
“So we are expecting another tricky fixture, but we’ve been there before, like you know, to other bigger countries, and we’ve come away with some decent results. So we are just going to go there and do our level best.”
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