Morocco U23: Jamel Aït Ben Idir calls up 28 players

The Moroccan U23 team is entering a new phase of its preparation. Jamel Aït Ben Idir has called up 28 players for a gathering that will take place from September 20 to October 6, 2026, at the Mohammed VI Football Complex, the Royal Moroccan Football Federation announced on Friday.

The group will play two friendly matches during this training camp. The Atlas Cubs will first face Mali on Thursday, October 1, at the Moulay Hassan Stadium in Rabat, before taking on Tanzania on Monday, October 5, at the Sports Village in Tangier. These two matches are intended to help the coaching staff continue preparations for the upcoming qualifying matches for the U23 Africa Cup of Nations 2027, the final phase of which will be held in Egypt.

The list heavily features players playing in Europe. Ilyes Housni, who scored a goal on Friday with Nancy against Rodez, is among those selected. Othmane Maamma (Watford), Jones El Abdellaoui (Celta Vigo), Adam Bakoune (Monza), Ismaïl Baouf (Cambuur), Elyess Dao (Anderlecht), Youssef Lekhdim (Alavés), and Amir Bouhamdi (PSV Eindhoven) are also included. The Moroccan league is represented notably by Ilyass Mahsouri (RS Berkane) and Abdel Hakim Mesbahi (AS FAR).

The 28 players called up

Ibrahim Gomis (Olympique de Marseille), Aymane El Hani (Ajax Amsterdam), Yanis Benchauoch (Red Star), Hamza Koutoune (OGC Nice), Faissal El Mazyani (RKC Waalwijk), Houssam Essadak (Al-Fateh), Anas Tajaouart (RAAL La Louvière), Reda Laalaoui (Westerlo), Saad El Haddad (NK Rudes), Amir Bouhamdi (PSV Eindhoven), Adam Boayar Benaisa (Elche), Ilias Boumassoudi (FC Den Bosch), Younes El Bahraoui (Al-Taawoun), Ilyes Housni (Nancy), Adam Bakoune (Monza), Othmane Maamma (Watford), Jones El Abdellaoui (Celta Vigo), Ismaïl Baouf (Cambuur), Ilyass Mahsouri (RS Berkane), Abdel Hakim Mesbahi (AS FAR), Chamsedin Kouranfal (Stade de Reims), Yassine Khalifi (Charleroi), Elyess Dao (Anderlecht), Mohammed Kebdani (Vitória Guimarães), Rafik El Arguioui (Cambuur), Youssef Lekhdim Enriquez (Deportivo Alavés), Kaïs Houddoussi Y. Barry (Anderlecht), and Fouad Zahouani (Ajax Amsterdam).