FC Utrecht duo called up for Morocco

Zakaria Labyad and Yassin Ayoub have a realistic prospect of world cup participation with Morocco. The two midfielders of FC Utrecht by coach Hervé Renard included in the squad for the oefeninterlands with Uzbekistan and Serbia. ,,We heard it at the club. We are excited about it,” says Ayoub.

Zakaria Labyad and Yassin Ayoub.

,,This are the last international matches for the world cup preparation begins, so it is very important to now be part of the group. It is a sign that we are doing a good job and a great opportunity to ourselves to prove. That we have to sit, shows that we are close to it”, says Ayoub, who last year was first selected for the Moroccan team, but on his first cap awaits. Labyad, who is six international matches behind his name, is for the first time in three years called up. ,,It’s extra nice that we are together. It is always fun to go to the national team to go with someone you know so well”, says Ayoub.

Except for the FC Utrecht-duo are out of the Premier league also Karim El Ahmadi, Sofyan Amrabat (both Feyenoord) and Hakim Ziyech (Ajax) is called up. Also Mbark Boussoufa and the ex-PSV’ers Nordin Amrabat and Manuel da Costa are by Renard recorded in the 27-piece selection. Not selected Mimoun Mahi of FC Groningen, who at the decisive world cup kwalificatieduel with the Ivory coast still of the party was. FC Twente-player Oussama Assaidi was part of the preliminary selection, but it is not in the final group.