Ilias Akhomach Joins Morocco as Brahim Diaz Faces Fitness Concerns

The Moroccan Football Federation has thrown a small grenade into this international break. Ilias Akhomach is in. Someone else is out. Nobody will yet say who.

All signs, though, are pointing in one direction.

Spanish newspaper AS reported on Tuesday night that Brahim Diaz is expected to be the player sacrificed from the squad, the likely victim of the physical problems that have dogged him in recent weeks. The same outlet revealed on Monday that the Real Madrid forward had been playing through severe pain in his most recent matches, pushing himself to stay on the pitch.

That decision now appears to carry a cost.

There is still no official confirmation from the Moroccan side. No statement. No list with a crossed‑out name. But the indications are clear enough: Brahim is expected to sit out Morocco’s games against Gabon and Lesotho, and then the high-profile friendly against Ghana, to give his body the pause it clearly needs.

For Morocco, it means a reshuffle in a key attacking role. For Akhomach, it is another door opening.

Akhomach’s second chance

Mohamed Ouahbi has turned to Villarreal’s young winger as his answer. The coach has decided Akhomach deserves another look, another stretch of minutes to prove he can be part of Morocco’s long-term picture.

Born in Pierola, near Barcelona, Akhomach grew up in Spanish football but chose the Moroccan shirt when it mattered. At 22, he already has 13 caps, yet he is still chasing that first international goal, still searching for the moment that announces him properly to Moroccan fans.

This call-up is another sign of trust. Another reminder that, even without the goals, his profile and potential keep him in the conversation. With Brahim likely missing, the stage opens a little wider.

Brahim’s enforced pause

At club level, Brahim’s status has rarely looked stronger.

Jose Mourinho has been clear from the start of the season: he trusts Diaz. His lineups and his substitutions have backed that up, carving out a prominent role for the Moroccan on the right flank at Real Madrid. Brahim has responded with sharp, influential displays, making himself harder and harder to leave out.

Across four seasons in Madrid, he has never been closer to locking down an undisputed starting place. That momentum, though, has come at a price. The physical issues that he tried to play through now threaten to interrupt his rise, at least briefly.

Stepping away from this international window may be exactly what he needs. No travel. No double-header. Just time to heal, to reset, to protect a season that still promises so much.

Morocco lose a star for now. Akhomach gains a platform. And when the next squad is named, will Brahim return as the same relentless starter—or as an even fresher version of himself, ready to pick up where he left off?