The Moroccan national team could turn to Bilal El Khannouss to fill the void left by the injured Azzedine Ounahi ahead of the Atlas Lions’ upcoming encounters against Niger.
With the two fixtures approaching, the Stuttgart midfielder appears to be a natural candidate to take on greater creative responsibility in the heart of Morocco’s midfield, thanks to his technical ability, composure under pressure and vision in possession.
While the final decision rests with head coach Mohamed Ouahbi, El Khannouss offers several qualities that could help Morocco maintain their attacking rhythm despite Ounahi’s absence.
Why El Khannouss Could Be the Right Fit
El Khannouss possesses many of the attributes required to operate in a creative midfield role.
His ability to receive the ball between the lines, retain possession under pressure and deliver incisive passes makes him a valuable option when Morocco need to unlock an opposing defence.
The young midfielder can also help connect defensive and attacking phases, providing a link between the deeper midfielders and the forwards.
These responsibilities overlap with some of the duties Ounahi performs for the national team, making El Khannouss a potential like-for-like alternative in terms of his creative contribution.
Maintaining Morocco’s Midfield Balance
One advantage of selecting El Khannouss in his familiar position is the possibility of maintaining Morocco’s existing tactical structure without requiring extensive changes elsewhere.
His ability to dictate play, move into advanced areas and exploit spaces between opposition lines could give the Atlas Lions additional solutions when building attacks.
Against Niger, Morocco may need creativity and patience to break down the opposition, making the role of the attacking midfielder particularly important.
El Khannouss could provide that attacking spark while helping the team maintain balance during transitions between defence and attack.
Mohamed Ouahbi Faces a Key Selection Decision
Ultimately, Mohamed Ouahbi will decide how best to reorganise his midfield in response to Ounahi’s injury.
The national team coach must weigh the available options and select a combination capable of delivering the required result across the two upcoming fixtures in Casablanca and Rabat.
El Khannouss appears to be a strong candidate given his technical profile and familiarity with a creative midfield role. However, the final lineup will depend on the coaching staff’s tactical assessment and the condition of the available players.
For the Atlas Lions, the objective remains clear: adapt to Ounahi’s absence, preserve their midfield cohesion and approach both encounters with the quality needed to secure positive results.