Moroccan Federation Rejects Betis' Request for Abde Ezzalzouli
The Royal Moroccan Football Federation has shut the door on Real Betis’s attempt to keep Abde Ezzalzouli out of the upcoming international window.
According to Moroccan outlet “Le360 Sport”, the federation flatly rejected a proposal from the Spanish club asking for an exemption that would allow the winger to skip Mohamed Ouahbi’s latest call-up for the games against Gabon and Lesotho.
Betis had pushed for Ezzalzouli to remain in Spain and avoid the long trip to South Africa, where the Atlas Lions are due to set up camp ahead of their clash with Lesotho in qualifying for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations. The answer from Rabat was clear: no.
Federation stands firm
If there was any room for negotiation, it disappeared when Ezzalzouli stepped onto the pitch for Betis against Villarreal. His involvement in that match only reinforced the Moroccan federation’s position.
From their perspective, minutes in La Liga are the clearest possible indication that the player is fit. No injury. No physical concern. No justification to miss national team duty.
The federation considers his club appearance sufficient proof that he can and should report for international service. Only a new development in his condition over the coming days would change that stance.
High‑stakes qualifiers
Morocco face Gabon and Lesotho on 25 and 29 September respectively, both matches counting towards qualification for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations finals. These are not friendly tune-ups. They shape the road to the continent’s biggest stage.
The games also form another building block in Ouahbi’s broader project. The coach continues to refine his squad and structure, aware that every camp, every session, every qualifier feeds into Morocco’s long-term ambitions.
Ouahbi is expected to unveil his 23-man list for the September camp next Thursday. That announcement will do more than confirm names; it will clarify which players from Morocco’s last World Cup adventure are at risk of losing their place as the team evolves.
Ezzalzouli in the spotlight
Right now, all signs point to Ezzalzouli being on that list. The federation has already brushed aside Betis’s request, and his recent minutes in Spain strengthen the technical staff’s argument for bringing him in.
For club and country, the message is unmistakable: if Abde Ezzalzouli is fit enough to play for Betis, Morocco expect him in camp when the international break begins. The only question left is how big a role he will play once the Atlas Lions step onto the pitch against Gabon and Lesotho.
