The national team list that played the match against Lesotho yesterday, Tuesday, witnessed the absence of player Ilyas Akhomach. This was a decision made by coach Mohamed Wahbi, who preferred not to risk playing him after he felt thigh pain. This wise decision was taken to ensure the player’s safety and to avoid worsening his injury, especially since the Toyota Stadium pitch in South Africa was in poor condition.
The national coach chose to rest Ilyas Akhomach to ensure his readiness for the upcoming friendly match next Monday, confirming the technical staff’s keenness to preserve key players and to distribute physical loads effectively. This measure is part of a broader strategy to maintain players’ physical fitness amid a packed match schedule.
Ilyas Akhomach was not the only one excluded from the match list against Lesotho; the decision also included seven other players. The excluded list included Abdullah Wazzan, Reda Tagnaouti, Alaa Belaroush, Ali Maamar, and Yasser Al-Zabiri.
Also, Naif Aguerd did not accompany the lions’ delegation to South Africa from the beginning, due to the injury he sustained in the previous match against Gabon last Friday. The national coach preferred to rest Naif Aguerd to give him ample opportunity to receive the necessary treatment at the Mohammed VI Center in Al-Maamoura, to ensure his full readiness to participate in upcoming commitments.

