Morocco Rejects Betis' Request for Abde Ezzalzouli Exemption
Real Betis asked for a favour. Morocco gave them a firm no.
The Royal Moroccan Football Federation has rejected a request from the Spanish club to keep Abde Ezzalzouli out of the upcoming international window, insisting the winger must report for national duty.
According to Moroccan outlet Le360 Sport, Betis had approached the federation with a proposal: waive Mohamed Ouahbi’s call-up for Ezzalzouli for the September matches against Gabon and Lesotho. The idea was simple from the club’s side — spare the player the long trip to South Africa, where the Atlas Lions will be based as they prepare to face Lesotho in qualifying for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations.
The federation did not bite.
Betis minutes strengthen Morocco’s hand
If Betis hoped to argue that Ezzalzouli needed rest or was not fully ready, his recent appearance for the club did them no favours. His involvement in the clash with Villarreal only reinforced Morocco’s position.
From the federation’s perspective, the logic is clear: if he is fit enough to play for Betis, he is fit enough to play for Morocco. Officials consider him in good physical condition, with no injury or fitness concern serious enough to justify skipping the national team camp.
That stance leaves little room for negotiation. Unless a new medical issue emerges in the coming days, Morocco expect Ezzalzouli to join the squad during the international break.
High-stakes qualifiers on the horizon
Morocco face Gabon and Lesotho on 25 and 29 September respectively, both fixtures counting towards qualification for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations finals. These are not gentle friendlies to ease into a new cycle; they are competitive tests that will shape Ouahbi’s early tenure.
The matches also come at a delicate moment for the national setup. Ouahbi continues to tune his squad and game model, and the September camp will push those plans forward. Every session matters, every selection sends a message.
The coach is expected to unveil his 23-man list next Thursday. That announcement will go beyond simple names on a sheet. It will clarify who still has a place in Morocco’s evolving project and who risks falling away, including some players who were part of the last World Cup campaign and now face possible omission.
Ezzalzouli’s status: from debate to near-certainty
Within that context, Ezzalzouli’s situation looks increasingly settled. The federation has already shut down Betis’s attempt to keep him in Spain, and his recent minutes in La Liga strengthen the technical staff’s argument that he should be involved.
All signs point to the winger being a strong candidate to make the final squad. Morocco want him on the pitch, not watching from Seville, as they chase early points on the road to the 2027 AFCON. The only question now is not whether he will be called, but what role Ouahbi envisions for him in a team that is slowly, but surely, being reshaped.
