AFCON 2025: Hakim Ziyech’s absence intensifies pressure on coach Walid Regragui

Morocco will compete in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations without Hakim Ziyech, the 32-year-old playmaker whose influence has shaped the national team for over a decade.

Ziyech, now at Wydad Casablanca, missed last year’s squad, but fans had hoped his current form would secure him a place for the tournament on home soil. His exclusion marks a significant moment in Moroccan football.

Media outlets immediately highlighted the implications of his absence. ActuMaroc described the squad as “solid and ambitious, built on continuity,” yet stressed that Ziyech’s omission “creates a void” and “already generates widespread discussion.”

The journalist emphasized that the Moroccan public idolizes Ziyech, and fans were eager to witness him perform once again.

Coach Walid Regragui opted for a younger, more physically robust squad, reflecting a strategy of attacking renewal.

Analysts and fans note that the decision signals a generational shift, prioritizing stamina and speed over established experience.

However, this choice sparks debate across social media, television, and local venues, with supporters questioning whether Morocco can reach the same heights without its left-footed star.

Regragui now faces heightened scrutiny. Every tactical move and match outcome will attract close analysis, as observers assess whether Morocco can succeed in Ziyech’s absence.

The team’s resilience and cohesion will prove essential, especially given the expectations of a home tournament.

Ziyech has earned 68 caps for Morocco, scoring 25 goals, and impressed worldwide during the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, where Morocco reached the semi-finals.

His technical skill, vision, and leadership on the pitch have left a lasting mark on the national team, and his absence represents both the end of an era and a test for Regragui’s squad.

As Morocco prepares to host Africa’s elite footballing nations, the spotlight falls squarely on Regragui.

He must demonstrate that his team can compete at the highest level, even without the magic of one of its most celebrated player