Yassir Zabiri is waiting for another chance to make his mark with the Morocco national team when the Atlas Lions take on Mali in an international friendly at the Grand Stade de Tanger on Sunday evening.
The young forward made his senior international debut from the start against Gabon in Morocco’s opening AFCON 2027 qualifier, but was left out of the squad that featured against Lesotho four days later.
A Starting Opportunity Against Gabon
Mohamed Ouahbi showed his confidence in the Racing Santander attacker by naming him in the starting XI for the opening qualifier.
With Ismael Saibari suspended and Ayoub El Kaabi unavailable through injury, the opportunity came at an important moment for the young forward.
He started alongside Abdessamad Ezzalzouli and Yassine Gessime in Morocco’s attack before making way for Soufiane Rahimi in the 62nd minute.
Although the performance did not produce the attacking impact many had hoped for, the experience gave the youngster his first significant taste of senior international football.
A Different Decision Against Lesotho
For the second qualifier against Lesotho, Ouahbi opted for different attacking options.
The forward was one of four players who remained unused during Morocco’s 2–0 victory, alongside Ali Maamar, Alaa Bellaarouch and Abdellah Ouazane.
That decision means the upcoming friendly in Tangier could provide another opportunity for the coaching staff to assess him, particularly with the match offering greater room for experimentation.
A Strong Start in Spain
His club form gives him a strong argument for more minutes.
The 18-year-old has made an impressive start to the season with Racing Santander, scoring six goals in his first seven appearances in the Spanish league.
Those numbers underline his current attacking confidence and show why his progress has attracted attention since the beginning of the campaign.
For a young striker competing for a place in a talented Moroccan squad, regular goals at club level remain one of the clearest ways to strengthen his case.
Another Chance to Show His Qualities
The friendly against Mali could give Ouahbi the opportunity to rotate his squad and give valuable minutes to players who need more experience at international level.
For Zabiri, that could mean another chance to demonstrate his movement, finishing and ability to contribute in the final third.
The challenge will be different from the opening qualifier, but the objective remains the same: use every minute on the pitch to show that he can compete for a regular place among Morocco’s attacking options.
Building His Place With the Atlas Lions
Morocco have already made a perfect start to their AFCON 2027 qualifying campaign, defeating Gabon and Lesotho by identical 2–0 scores.
The friendly in Tangier therefore offers Ouahbi another opportunity to continue building his squad while allowing emerging players to gain valuable international experience.
For the young Racing Santander forward, another appearance would be an important step in his development with the Atlas Lions, and a chance to turn his impressive club form into another positive moment on the international stage.