Morocco's Ilias Akhomach Call-Up Raises Questions About Brahim Diaz

The Moroccan Football Federation slipped out one name on Tuesday – Ilias Akhomach – and left another hanging in the air. Villarreal’s young forward is in for this international window. Who steps aside for him remains officially untold.

The silence has only fuelled the noise.

In Spain, "AS" joined the dots and pointed straight at Brahim Diaz. The Real Madrid attacker has been battling serious physical issues in recent weeks, and the paper reported that all signs indicate he is the one to make way.

Their story on Monday painted the backdrop: Diaz had been playing through severe pain in his last outings. That detail suddenly makes his absence from the current Morocco squad look less like a surprise and more like a necessity.

There is still no statement from the federation, no definitive word that Diaz is out. Yet the picture is becoming clear. The expectation is that he will miss Morocco’s matches against Gabon and Lesotho, and then the high-profile friendly against Ghana, to give his body the break it badly needs.

Akhomach’s window opens

For Akhomach, the door swings wide.

Coach Mohamed Ouahbi has handed the Villarreal forward another chance to stake his claim in a squad brimming with attacking talent. Born in Pierola, in the Barcelona area, Akhomach grew up in Spain but chose Morocco when it came to his international future, leaning into his roots rather than his birthplace.

He has already worn the shirt 13 times. The next step still eludes him: that first international goal. This call-up offers another shot at it, and with key names managing their fitness, the opportunity for minutes grows.

Diaz hits pause

Back in Madrid, Diaz’s story takes a different turn.

Jose Mourinho has leaned heavily on him since the start of the season, both in his public backing and in his team sheets. Diaz has become a vital presence on the right flank, his performances matching the trust placed in him.

Across four seasons at Real Madrid, he has never looked more secure, never closer to locking down a permanent starting role. The timing of these physical problems could hardly be worse. Momentum like his is hard to build and easy to lose.

Yet the enforced pause might prove useful. Stepping away from this international window gives Diaz what he has not had for weeks: time. Time to rest, to treat the pain properly, to come back without carrying a hidden burden.

Morocco will move on without him for now. The real question is what shape he will be in when he pulls that shirt back on – and whether this short break becomes the platform for an even stronger return.