Morocco’s veteran captain Noureddine Naybet has been recalled in a preliminary squad of 28 for the African Nations Cup.
Coach Mohammed Fakhir, who replaced Philippe Troussier at the weekend, has recalled the 35-year-old defender after Naybet was dropped during the closing stages of last year’s World Cup qualifiers over a row with previous Morocco coach Badou Ezaki. Veterans Youssef Chippo, formerly of Coventry City and now playing in Qatar, and French-based midfielder Gharib Amzine are also among surprise recalls.Morocco’s football federation announced plans to stage a hastily arranged friendly against fellow Nations Cup finalists the Democratic Republic of Congo in Rabat next Monday.It will be Fakhir’s first game in charge since taking over from Troussier, controversially dismissed on New Year’s Eve after just two months in charge.Morocco meet hosts Egypt, Ivory Coast and Libya in the tournament starting on January 20.Squad: Goalkeepers: Mustapha Chadili (Moghreb Tetouan), Tarek Jarmouni (Royal Armed Forces), Nadir Lamyaghri (Wydad Casablanca), Noureddine Souieb (Chabab Mohammedia) Defenders: Talal El Karkouri (Charlton Athletic), El Armine Erbate (Qatar SC), Noureddine Naybet (Tottenham Hotspur), Abdeslam Ouaddou (Stade Rennes), Houcine Ouchela (Royal Armed Forces), Walid Regragui (Racing Santander) Midfielders: Hafid Abdessadek (Royal Armed Forces), Soufiane Alloudi (Raja Casablanca), Gharib Amzine (Troyes), Youssef Chippo (Al Wakra), Badr El Kaddouri (Dynamo Kiev), Noureddine Kacemi (Grenoble), Houssine Kharja (AS Roma), Mohamed Madihi (Wydad Casablanca), Hicham Mahdoufi (Olympique Khouribga), Youssef Safri (Norwich City), Mohamed Yaacoubi (Osasuna), Moncef Zerka (Nancy) Forwards: Hicham Aboucherouane (Lille), Mohamed Armoumen (Kuwait SC), Nourdine Boukhari (Ajax Amsterdam), Ali Boussabon (Feyenoord), Marouane Chamakh (Girondins Bordeaux), Youssef Hadji (Stade Rennes).- ReutersVeterans Youssef Chippo, formerly of Coventry City and now playing in Qatar, and French-based midfielder Gharib Amzine are also among surprise recalls.Morocco’s football federation announced plans to stage a hastily arranged friendly against fellow Nations Cup finalists the Democratic Republic of Congo in Rabat next Monday.It will be Fakhir’s first game in charge since taking over from Troussier, controversially dismissed on New Year’s Eve after just two months in charge.Morocco meet hosts Egypt, Ivory Coast and Libya in the tournament starting on January 20.Squad: Goalkeepers: Mustapha Chadili (Moghreb Tetouan), Tarek Jarmouni (Royal Armed Forces), Nadir Lamyaghri (Wydad Casablanca), Noureddine Souieb (Chabab Mohammedia) Defenders: Talal El Karkouri (Charlton Athletic), El Armine Erbate (Qatar SC), Noureddine Naybet (Tottenham Hotspur), Abdeslam Ouaddou (Stade Rennes), Houcine Ouchela (Royal Armed Forces), Walid Regragui (Racing Santander) Midfielders: Hafid Abdessadek (Royal Armed Forces), Soufiane Alloudi (Raja Casablanca), Gharib Amzine (Troyes), Youssef Chippo (Al Wakra), Badr El Kaddouri (Dynamo Kiev), Noureddine Kacemi (Grenoble), Houssine Kharja (AS Roma), Mohamed Madihi (Wydad Casablanca), Hicham Mahdoufi (Olympique Khouribga), Youssef Safri (Norwich City), Mohamed Yaacoubi (Osasuna), Moncef Zerka (Nancy) Forwards: Hicham Aboucherouane (Lille), Mohamed Armoumen (Kuwait SC), Nourdine Boukhari (Ajax Amsterdam), Ali Boussabon (Feyenoord), Marouane Chamakh (Girondins Bordeaux), Youssef Hadji (Stade Rennes).- Reuters
