Sofyan Amrabat clarifies his stance on the national team

This update focuses on Sofyan Amrabat Morocco. Morocco international Sofyan Amrabat has moved to clarify his position after recent comments by national coach Mohamed Ouahbi about the reasons behind his current distance from the squad.

Sofyan Amrabat Morocco: a different version of events

In an interview with ESPN, the Ajax midfielder challenged the idea that his future with the Morocco national team depends on the minutes he played at the last World Cup.

According to remarks attributed to Mohamed Ouahbi, Sofyan Amrabat was said to be unwilling to rejoin the Atlas Lions as long as the current coach remains in charge, partly due to his limited playing time at the tournament. The player firmly disagrees with that reading.

“I did not expect these comments. They are a bit strange,” he told ESPN, stressing that he has never made his commitment to the national team conditional on being a starter.

Loyalty to the Atlas Lions shirt

For Sofyan Amrabat, wearing Morocco’s shirt remains the priority, whatever role the coach assigns him. He underlines that he has always accepted the staff’s decisions.

• He says he never asked for more minutes.
• He insists on his pride in representing Morocco.
• He declares himself ready to help the team on or off the pitch.

“I have played for my country with immense pride. It is the greatest honour. It does not matter if I play 90 minutes, 20 minutes, 10 minutes or not at all,” he explained, recalling that he stayed fully involved with his teammates during the World Cup and trained seriously throughout.

He adds that he has “never asked for more playing time” and repeats that a player “must fight for his place”. For Moroccans following the national team from Europe, North America or the Gulf, these words sound like a reassurance that his bond with the Atlas Lions remains strong.

No public break with coach Mohamed Ouahbi

Asked about his relationship with Mohamed Ouahbi, Sofyan Amrabat rejected the idea of an open conflict. He prefers to bring the discussion back to the collective interest.

“It is not about me, but about the national team,” he underlined, acknowledging the central role of the coach. He says he wishes Ouahbi and the squad success and distances himself from any personal attacks.

This clarification comes at a sensitive time for the Atlas Lions, closely watched by Moroccans inside the country and abroad. For many families in the diaspora, the national team is a powerful symbol of identity and connection with home.

Encouragement for the next generation

Sofyan Amrabat also took the opportunity to praise competition in midfield, especially rising talent Ayyoub Bouaddi. He described him as an “excellent player and a nice young man”, wishing him all the best.

This tribute to a younger teammate shows the Ajax midfielder’s willingness to support the new generation in a squad where experience matters as much as minutes on the pitch.

For now, Sofyan Amrabat’s clarification about his situation with Morocco keeps all options open for the future. Above all, it confirms that, for him, the story with the Atlas Lions is still about pride, respect for the shirt and attachment to the national colours — a feeling many Moroccans living abroad share.

For more context, readers can follow Canal212 news for Moroccans abroad.

For official updates, readers can check the relevant official source.