Khaberni - Morocco has included Achraf Hakimi, this year's African Footballer of the Year, in its 26-player squad for the Africa Cup of Nations, and is confident in his recovery from an ankle injury in time to play.
There were concerns about the fullback's readiness for the tournament, which starts on December 21, after he suffered a severe ankle sprain during Paris Saint-Germain's 2-1 defeat to Bayern Munich in the Champions League last month.
Coach Walid Regragui had already expressed optimism that Hakimi would be available to lead the team in the opening match against Comoros in Rabat.
The Moroccan coach told a French radio station over the weekend: "He has been working hard since his injury and is doing what he needs to do. He is diligent. He wants to be present from the first match."
Lille striker Hamza Ighaman was excluded from the squad after he was injured in his muscles while playing against Olympique Marseille last Friday.
Ighaman had made a significant impact in Ligue 1 and with the Moroccan national team, and was expected to be a key player in the tournament for the hosts.
Morocco, which reached the semi-finals in the last World Cup and is considered a strong candidate for success on its home ground, will also face Mali and Zambia in Group A.
The squad includes goalkeepers: Yassine Bounou (AlHilal), Munir El Kajoui (Renaissance Berkane), Mehdi El Harrar (Raja Casablanca); defenders: Nayef Aguerd (Olympique Marseille), Abdelhamid Sabiri (Stade Rennais), Mohamed Chibi (Pyramids), Jawad El Yamiq (AlNajma), Achraf Hakimi (Paris Saint-Germain), Adam Masina (Torino), Noussair Mazraoui (Manchester United), Romain Saïss (Al Sadd), Anas Salah-Eddine (PSV Eindhoven); midfielders: Sofyan Amrabat (Real Betis), Elias Ben Sghir (Bayer Leverkusen), Brahim Diaz (Real Madrid), Nael Jaby (AS Roma), Bilal Khanous (Stuttgart), Azzedine Ounahi (Girona), Oussama Targhalline (Feyenoord); forwards: Elias Akhomach (Villarreal), Ayoub El Kaabi (Olympiacos), Youssef En-Nesyri (Fenerbahce), Abdelkader Ghezzal (Real Betis), Sofiane Rahimi (Al Ain), Ismail Saibari (PSV Eindhoven), Shemseddine Talbi (Sunderland).
