Morocco pick Kharja for Olympics

Fiorentina striker Houssine Kharja is one of just two overage players in Morocco’s squad for the men’s Olympic football tournament.

The other overage player chosen by coach Pim Verbeek is Nordine Amrabat.

Kharja, who was Morocco captian, and Amrabat both part of the Atlas Lions squad at the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations.

Goalkeeper Mohamed Amsif and Abdelhamid El Kaoutari were also at the Nations Cup and are in the Olympic squad.

Italy-based

Omar El Kaddouri is also included in the squad following his recent nationality swap from Belgium.

However injury forces Montpellier midfielder Younes Belhanda to miss the tournament.

Eight of the players who helped Morocco qualify for the Games,by finishing as runners-up at the inaugural African Under-23 Championship,are in the final 18-man squad for London.

Morocco will be making their seventh appearance at the Olympic men’s football tournament, where they open their Group D campaign against Honduras on 26 July.

Three days later they play Japan before a final game against Spain.

The Morocco squad will prepare in the Netherlands from next week.

Squad:

Goalkeepers:

Mohamed Amsif (FC Augsburg, Germany), Yassine Bounou (Atletico Madrid, Spain)

Defenders:

Mohamed Aberhoune (MA Tetouan), Zakarya Bergdich (Racing Lens, France), Abdelhamid El Kaoutari (Montpellier, France), Zouhair Feddal (Espanyol, Spain), Yacine Jebbour (Stade Rennes, France), Abdelatif Noussair (FUS Rabat)

Midfielders:

Abdelaziz Barrada (Getafe, Spain), Omar El Kaddouri (Brescia, Italy), Driss Fettouhi (Istres, France), Rayane Frikech (Angers, France), Houcine Kharja (Fiorentina, Italy), Imad Najah (PSV Eindhoven, Netherlands)

Forwards:

Nordine Amrabat (Kayerispor, Turkey), Soufiane Bidaoui (Lierse, Belgium), Soufian El Hassnaoui (De Graafschap, Netherlands), Zakarya Labyad (Sporting Lisbon, Portugal)

@timesofnews.com

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