By Adegboyega Adeleye
Sofyan Amrabat has made himself unavailable for Morocco under coach Mohamed Ouahbi, but insists he has not retired from international football.
According to Reuters, the 30-year-old midfielder announced the decision ahead of Morocco’s 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, saying he would not represent the national team while Ouahbi remains in charge.
“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 said he preferred to keep his reasons private “out of respect for the national team and everyone involved”, but made his position clear.
“I am therefore making myself unavailable for selection while he remains in charge,” he said.
Amrabat also stressed that his decision was not a retirement 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 added.
The former Manchester United and Fiorentina midfielder was a key member of Morocco’s historic run to the 2022 World Cup semi-finals under Walid Regragui, who was replaced by Ouahbi in March.
Amrabat had limited playing time at the 2026 World Cup, starting just one of Morocco’s six matches as they reached the quarter-finals before losing to France.
Manchester City midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi’s emergence has also limited his opportunities, according to Reuters.
Amrabat recently joined Ajax and said he would remain Morocco’s “biggest fan” as the team begins its AFCON qualification campaign.
Morocco will host Gabon on September 25 before facing Lesotho in South Africa four days later, with the 2027 AFCON scheduled to be hosted by Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania.
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