Morocco’s Mystery Call-Up: Akhomach In, Questions Around Diaz

The Moroccan Football Federation has lit the fuse under this international break with one simple move: a late call-up for Villarreal forward Ilias Akhomach, and no word on who steps aside.

The silence has only fuelled speculation.

In Spain, "AS" reported on Tuesday night that all signs point toward one name: Brahim Diaz. The Real Madrid playmaker, a symbol of Morocco’s recent rise, is believed to be the man sacrificed after battling serious physical problems in recent weeks.

That same outlet revealed on Monday that Diaz had been playing through severe pain in his last matches. Suddenly, his absence from the current Morocco squad looks less like a surprise and more like a necessity.

There is still no official confirmation. No statement. No list with a crossed-out name. Yet the indications are strong: Diaz is expected to miss Morocco’s fixtures against Gabon and Lesotho, and then sit out the high-profile friendly against Ghana, all in the name of rest and recovery.

Akhomach steps into the spotlight

While the fog thickens around Diaz, the door swings open for Ilias Akhomach.

Coach Mohamed Ouahbi has turned to the Villarreal attacker again, offering the 22-year-old another chance to nail down a place in a squad that grows more competitive with every window.

Born in Pierola, in the Barcelona region, Akhomach had options. He chose Morocco, the country of his roots, and has already pulled on the national shirt 13 times. He is still waiting for his first international goal, still chasing that moment that turns promise into permanence.

This call-up is another vote of confidence. Another reminder that his story with Morocco is only just beginning.

Diaz forced to pause

For Brahim Diaz, the timing cuts both ways.

Jose Mourinho has leaned heavily on him since the start of the season. Through his selections and his public backing, the coach has made Diaz a key piece on the right flank, and the player has answered with a run of strong, influential performances.

Across four seasons at Real Madrid, Diaz has never looked more settled, never seemed closer to locking down an undisputed starting role. Then came the physical issues that "AS" detailed. Pain that he played through. Minutes that took a toll.

Now, that momentum hits a brief halt.

Missing this international window may sting, especially for a player who fought hard to establish himself with Morocco. Yet the decision to leave him out could prove decisive for the months ahead. It gives him what he clearly needs: time. Time to heal, to reset, and to come back ready to drive both club and country again.

As Akhomach seizes his opportunity and Diaz steps back to recover, Morocco’s right flank tells the story of a modern national team: ruthless competition, fragile fitness, and the thin line between a breakthrough and a forced break.