Morocco Women's World Cup 2023 squad: Who's in & who's out?

Khadija Errmichi should be the first-choice goalkeeper for her team in the showpiece event. The AS FAR shot-stopper is on a run of six consecutive clean sheets in the friendlies Morocco have played leading to the World Cup and her immaculate form guarding her team's goal could prove integral for Morocco.

Errmichi was successful in saving a penalty against Nigeria in the semi-finals of the African Women's Cup of Nations helping them reach the final stage.

Cannes' Ines Arouaissa and SCCM's Assia Zouhair could serve as perfect backups if Pedros decides to give them an opportunity.

The Moroccan side has an excellent centre-back partnership with Yasmine Mrabet and Nouhaila Benzina. The two experienced campaigners have amazing chemistry between two of them and are a very strong combination lunging into tackles to stop the opposition attacks.

Mrabet, the winner of the UEFA U-19 Women's Championship, could add her experience of capturing silverware to a side who are playing in the World Cup for the first time.

For the full-backs role, Morocco have often opted for Sabag Sehgir and Zineb Redouani as left-back and right-back respectively. AS FAR's Ghizlane Chhirri could be another defensive option to replace Sehgir considering she has won 61% of the tackles, but the former could be given an opportunity only when the team needs massive defensive cover.

Charleroi's Rkia Mazroaui could also be given a shot at the playing eleven by Pedros but considering the experience and adaptability of Redouani it's highly unlikely that the AS FAR defender is dropped from the side.

Pedros has picked a provisional squad with very few midfielders heading into the World Cup. With just five options available to choose from, captain Ghizlane Chebbak and Elodie Nakkach will be the go-to players for the Atlas Lioness.

Both Chebbak and Nakkach have played alongside each other and could complement each other in the centre of the pitch. Chebbak's club teammate Najat Badri has tons of experience under her belt and the Moroccan veteran could utilise it in nerve-wracking situations if given an opportunity.

Guingamp's Anissa Lahmari is another exciting option for Pedros if he wants to keep his squad fresh alongside 19-year-old Sarah Kassi as the Moroccan prodigy would be vying to get a view of the biggest stage.

Morocco have selected a large pool of forwards to choose from in their final squad. With a plethora of talent running through the ranks in Morocco, Pedros would be spoilt for choices in choosing the best possible front three.

The obvious choice would be Tottenham's Rosella Ayane supported by Fatime Tagnaout and Diki Sakina Ouzraoui as wingers leading the attack. Ayane has the perfect knack of smashing thunderous strikers in the back of the net and Tagnaout and Ouzraoui can glide past the opposing defenders with ease.

Servette's Imane Saoud and RS Berkane's Sofia Bouftini could serve as backup for the Atlas Lioness. Saoud can operate her magic on either of the flanks, preferably on the right, while Bouftini could be a perfect alternative on the right wing.

Pedros will therefore need to strike the perfect balance in his team sheet and rotate his forwards on a constant basis. The manager can choose players according to the game and the opponent and leaving aside Rosella Ayane, all the players can give massive competition to each other to fight for a spot in the final eleven.

Without a doubt, Khadija Errimich would be the starter between the sticks owing to her exemplary goalkeeping skills.

Pedros will look to field a 4-2-3-1 formation with Yasmin Mrabet and Nouhaila Benzina as centre-backs with their experience and consistency in terms of performance. Zineb Redouani and Sabah Seghir would be the obvious choice as full backs considering Morocco are short of options in that position and the duo have been excellent in the friendly games before the World Cup.

Elodie Nakkach and international captainGhizlane Chebbak would be plotted in the centre of the park with their amazing partnership in the midfield. Chebbak has tons of experience under her name and could control the whole game from the centre of the park. While Salma Amani would be given a free role to drift between the lines and help in the transition of attacks.

Upfront Pedros will bank on the services of Sakina Ouzraoui and Fatima Tagnaout to provide some deathly darts behind the opposition's defense and assist Ayane in bagging some goals.

Tottenham's striker Roselle Ayane would be leading the line and despite her operating on the flanks in the WSL, the Moroccan international can prove to be a headache in front of goal.

Morocco XI (4-2-3-1): Errimichi; Redouani, Benzina, Mrabet, Seghir; Nakkach, Chebbak; Ouzraoui, Amani, Tagnaout; Ayane.

Maryame Atiq is one player who failed to make it to the provisional squad for Morocco. The defender could have served well alongside Yasmin Mrabet but has failed to be shortlisted by Pedros.

Another player who missed out is Sanaa Mssoudy who could have been a perfect backup to Rosella Ayane but with a plethora of forwards already chosen, Mssoudy missed out on a World Cup squad.