Morocco defender to miss Bafana clash
KEY Morocco defender Abdelhamid El Kaoutari has pulled out of his country’s team to face Bafana Bafana in Agadir on Friday in a scenario that is similar to a problem Gordon Igesund has with Thulani Serero.
El Kaoutari was a league winner with French club Montpellier last year and is seen as key to Morocco’s plans for their hosting of the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations finals but is now in conflict with coach Rachid Taoussi.
He complained last month when he was left out of the starting lineup for the World Cup qualifier against the Ivory Coast – after returning from a two-match suspension – and now has chosen to use the 10-day break from club football to go for a small nose procedure that he could presumably undergo at a later stage, rather than play in the match against South Africa.
Morocco will also be without striker Abderrazak Hamedallah because he has asked for time off to try and find a new club. He plays for Aalesund in Norway where the season is near an end.
Morocco do not plan to call up replacements to their original 24-man squad. Friday’s match is to mark the opening of the new Agadir Stadium, built for Morocco’s hosting of the 2015 Nations Cup finals.
The South African coach at the week- end saw midfield enforcer Katlego Dikgacoi pull out because of injury.
Morocco squad: Goalkeepers: Mohamed Amsif (FC Augsburg, Germany), Yassine Bounou (Atletico Madrid, Spain), Anas Zniti (Royal Armed Forces). Defenders: Mehdi Benatia (Roma, Italy), Zakarya Bergdich (Real Valladolid, Spain), Issam El Adoua (Levante, Spain), Zouhair Feddal (Siena, Italy), Adil Karrouchy (Raja Casablanca), Abdelatif Noussir (Maghreb Fes), Mohamed Oulhaj (Raja Casablanca). Midfielders: Abdelaziz Barrada (Al Jazira, United Arab Emirates), Younes Belhanda (Dynamo Kiev, Ukraine), Omar El Kaddouri (Torino, Italy), Abdelilah Hafidi (Raja Casablanca), Mounir Obbadi (Monaco, France), Fettah Said (Wydad Casablanca), Salahdine Saidi (Royal Armed Forces), Adel Taarabt (Fulham, England). Forwards: Abdeslam Benjelloun (Royal Armed Forces), Mohamed Berrabah (Wydad Casablanca), Youssef El Arabi (Granada, Spain), Mounir El Hamdaoui (Malaga, Spain)