Manchester United and Morocco defender Noussair Mazraoui has spotlighted one former Red Devils star ahead of the start of the 2025 AFCON tournament.
Noussair Mazraoui was ruled out of Manchester United’s 4-4 draw against Bournemouth on Monday after he was called up for the Africa Cup of Nations.
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United had wanted the Royal Moroccan Football Federation to allow the 28-year-old Morocco international to stay for the Premier League match against Bournemouth.
However, the Moroccan Football Federation made the decision to summon Mazraoui for Morocco’s training ahead of the host nation kicking off the AFCON competition.
Morocco are in Group A and Walid Regragui’s men will begin their Africa Cup of Nations campaign against Comoros at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat on Sunday.
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Noussair Mazraoui explains the importance of former Man Utd star Sofyan Amrabat for Morocco’s 2025 AFCON run
Noussair Mazraoui will link up with former Manchester United midfielder Sofyan Amrabat for this current edition of the Africa Cup of Nations tournament.
Sofyan Amrabat spent the 2023-24 Premier League campaign on loan at Old Trafford after he was reunited with former Utrecht manager Erik ten Hag.
The 29-year-old Dutch-born midfielder made 30 appearances across all competitions for United in his one and only season at the Premier League club.
Amrabat impressed for the Red Devils in United’s sensational 2-1 FA Cup final win over crosstown rivals Manchester City at Wembley in 2024.
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Mazraoui has now said that former United midfielder Amrabat is a key player for Morocco at the 2025 AFCON tournament alongside himself and three other players.
“We have quite some players who are really experienced,” he told Manchester United’s official website.
“You have me, Hakimi, [Yassine] Bounou, of course. In midfield, you have Amrabat, who is there. We have [Nayef] Aguerd. A lot of players [who] are used to a lot of pressure.
“We have some young guys with a lot of energy who we know and know how important it is.
“And they are really happy to be with the national team and that’s what you see as well.
“So, yeah, I think we have really the right balance. Brahim Diaz is there, of course, as well. We have top quality in this moment.”
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Man Utd and Morocco star Noussair Mazraoui breaks down his responsibility ahead of the 2025 AFCON tournament
Mazraoui admitted that he is all too familiar with the expectations placed on him for Morocco’s AFCON campaign and is well-equipped to embrace the pressure.
“[I’m composed on the pitch] because I’ve been in a lot of situations where the pressure was immense,” he added.
“So, I think having a lot of those kind of moments makes me, I don’t want to really say pressure-proof, but to really know what to do when the pressure is really on.
“So yeah, that’s why I think, when I’m under pressure, I’m still calm. I can still do what everybody tells us with no pressure.”
Ruben Amorim will now be without Mazraoui, Cameroon winger Bryan Mbeumo and Ivory Coast international Amad Diallo until January 2026 due to AFCON.
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