Sofyan Amrabat has announced that he will not make himself available for Morocco while Mohamed Ouahbi remains head coach, but the 30-year-old midfielder has stressed that he has not retired from international football.
Amrabat made the announcement ahead of Morocco’s 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign, explaining that he had reached the decision after what he described as a difficult period.
“This has been a very difficult decision, but I do not feel able to continue representing the national team under the current head coach,” Amrabat said in an Instagram post.
The Ajax midfielder declined to publicly explain the reasons behind his decision, saying he wanted to keep them private out of respect for the national team and those involved.
“I am therefore making myself unavailable for selection while he remains in charge,” he added.
However, Amrabat was careful to distinguish his decision from a permanent withdrawal from international football.
“I want to be clear: I am not retiring from international football, and I am not closing the door on representing Morocco again,” he said.
The midfielder was a key figure in Morocco’s remarkable 2022 World Cup campaign, when the North Africans became the first African team to reach the semi-finals. That side was coached by Walid Regragui, who was replaced by Ouahbi in March.
Amrabat’s role was reduced at the 2026 World Cup, where he started only one of Morocco’s six matches as the team reached the quarter-finals before being eliminated by France.
His chances of returning to a regular starting role have also been affected by the emergence of Manchester City midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi.
Amrabat, who previously played for Manchester United and Fiorentina, recently joined Ajax. Despite his decision to step away from selection under Ouahbi, he said he would continue to support the national team.
He described himself as Morocco’s “biggest fan” as the team prepares to begin its qualification campaign for the 2027 AFCON, which will be hosted jointly by Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania.
Morocco are scheduled to open their campaign at home against Gabon on September 25 before travelling to South Africa to face Lesotho four days later.
