CAN 2025: Morocco shuts the door on Bounou | OneFootball

Morocco: Yassine Bounou exempt from CAN 2025?

CAN 2025: Morocco shuts the door on Bounou

According to a Saudi source, Al-Hilal has reportedly entered into official talks with the Royal Moroccan Football Federation in an attempt to secure a special exemption for Yassine Bounou ahead of CAN 2025. The move is seen as highly improbable—internally described as having “zero percent chance” of success—but the Saudi club still wanted to make the request formal.

The undisputed number one goalkeeper for the Atlas Lions, Bounou remains an irreplaceable asset for Walid Regragui. In Morocco, nobody even entertains the thought of heading into a home CAN without their first-choice shot-stopper.

Drawn into a tough group with Comoros, Mali, and Zambia, Morocco is clearly targeting the ultimate prize—nearly half a century after their only continental triumph in 1976. Simply put, Bounou’s presence is non-negotiable.