Sofyan Amrabat posted a statement on Instagram explaining his decision to step away from the Morocco national team as long as Mohamed Ouahbi stays in charge. The 30-year-old midfielder said the choice had been very difficult but that he did not feel able to continue representing the Atlas Lions under the current coach. Reuters reported that Amrabat made clear he prefers to keep the reasons private out of respect for the national team and all involved.
The player emphasized that this move does not signal retirement from international duty. “I want to be clear: I am not retiring from international football, and I am not closing the door on representing Morocco again,” Amrabat said in the Instagram post. He added that he would remain the team’s biggest fan as Morocco begins its qualifying campaign for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations co-hosted by Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania.
Ouahbi replaced Walid Regragui as Morocco coach in March following the team’s participation in the 2026 World Cup. Amrabat started only one of Morocco’s six matches at that tournament in the United States, Canada and Mexico, where the Atlas Lions reached the quarterfinals before falling to France. The emergence of Manchester City midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi contributed to the veteran’s reduced role, Reuters noted.
Amrabat has earned 78 caps for Morocco and played a central part in the side that advanced to the 2022 World Cup semifinals under Regragui. The Dutch-born player recently signed with Ajax Amsterdam after earlier stints at clubs including Manchester United on loan. According to Reuters, his limited minutes at the 2026 tournament marked a shift from his earlier prominence in the national setup.
The announcement arrives just before the start of qualifying for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations this month. “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 stated in the post carried by Reuters. “I am therefore making myself unavailable for selection while he remains in charge.”
Out of respect for the national team, Amrabat chose not to elaborate on the specific factors behind his choice. The midfielder first represented Morocco more than a decade ago and has consistently expressed pride in wearing the national shirt. Reuters data places his total appearances at 78, underscoring his long service before this latest development.
