Sofyan Amrabat put an end to any ambiguity in an Instagram story published on September 8, 2026. 'I am making myself unavailable' for Morocco's national team, he writes, as long as Mohamed Ouahbi holds the position of head coach.
The Ajax Amsterdam midfielder does not detail the reasons behind his decision. He describes it as a 'very difficult' choice and says he prefers to keep the reason private, out of respect for the national team and the people involved.
The Amrabat factor
Amrabat was one of the faces of Morocco's semi-final run at the 2022 World Cup. Under Mohamed Ouahbi's leadership, he then took part in the 2026 World Cup, starting in the group stage before coming on as a substitute twice, in the round of 16 and then in the quarter-final.
The player is keen to distinguish his decision from a definitive break. He is not retiring from international football, he clarifies, and does not rule out a return to the national team in the future. He says he wants to remain his teammates' biggest supporter.
This announcement says nothing about the disagreement that prompted it. It does, however, set a clear condition: as long as Mohamed Ouahbi is head coach, Amrabat will not wear the Moroccan jersey.
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