Morocco's Squad Change: Akhomach In, Diaz Out
The Moroccan Football Federation has slipped a significant change into its squad list. Villarreal forward Ilias Akhomach is in. Someone else, though, has to step aside.
No name has been given. No official explanation either. But in Spain, the finger is pointing firmly at one player: Brahim Diaz.
According to Spanish newspaper AS, all signs suggest the Real Madrid attacker is the one to make way, after a spell in which he has been playing through serious physical problems. The same outlet revealed on Monday that Diaz had taken the field in his recent matches despite suffering from severe pain, a detail that suddenly makes his absence from Morocco’s current camp easier to understand.
There is still no formal confirmation from Morocco or from Real Madrid. Even so, the indications are strong: Diaz is expected to miss Morocco’s games against Gabon and Lesotho, and then the high-profile friendly against Ghana, to give his body the breather it clearly needs.
Akhomach’s Second Door Opens
While one star steps back, another steps forward.
Coach Mohamed Ouahbi has turned to Ilias Akhomach, handing the Villarreal forward another chance to nail down a role with the national team. For the 22-year-old, it is another reward on a path that has already taken a few sharp turns.
Born in Pierola, near Barcelona, Akhomach grew up in Spain’s footballing culture but chose to wear the Morocco shirt. Thirteen caps in, he is still chasing his first international goal, still searching for that moment that properly announces him to Moroccan fans.
This call-up gives him another stage, another window to convince Ouahbi he belongs in the long-term picture.
Diaz Hits Pause
For Brahim Diaz, this feels less like a snub and more like a necessary stop.
Jose Mourinho has made no attempt to hide how much he depends on Diaz this season. Through both his team selections and his public backing, he has turned the Moroccan into a key figure on the right flank. Diaz has responded with strong, consistent performances, finally looking ready to lock down a permanent starting role in his fourth campaign at Real Madrid.
That is what makes the timing so delicate. Just as he edges toward “indispensable” status, his body pushes back.
A break now, though, might be the smartest decision for everyone. Skipping this international window gives Diaz the chance to rest, to heal properly, and to return to Madrid fresher and stronger, instead of grinding through more minutes in pain.
For Morocco, it opens a short-term gap on the wing. For Akhomach, it opens a door. How long it stays open will depend on what he does with it.
