Club Brugge of Belgian midfielder, Nabil Dirar has opted to play for his North African country of birth rather than the much fancied Belgian National team.
The player has accepted an invitation to play for the Atlas Lions in their crucial 2010 World Cup/Nations Cup qualifying encounter against the Wasps of Rwanda.
He turned down an invitation to the Belgian National team, despite having Belgian Citizenship. The decision of the player comes as a major boost to French-born tactician of the team, Roger Lemerre who has seen his squad hit by players suspension and injuries.
Dynamos Kiev of Ukraine defender Badr El Kaddouri will be absent from the encounter having suffered an injury in his team's UEFA Champions League clash against Turkish club side Fernerbache.
Midfielder Soufiane Alloudi would also be absent from the clash due to suspension.
The Atlas Lions are currently second in Group 8, but would top the group and qualify automatically if they defeat Rwanda in the game to be played in Rabat.
Moroccan squad
Goalkeepers:
Karim Zaza (Aalborg, Denmark), Nadir Lamyaghri (Wydad Casablanca)
Defenders:
Michael Chretien Bassir and Abdeslam Ouaddou (Nancy, France), Younes Mankari (Wydad Casablanca), Amine Erbate (Marseille, France), Youssef Rabeh (Levski Sofia, Bulgaria), Salaheddine Sbai (Charleroi, Belgium)
Midfielders:
Youssef Safri (Qatar S.C., Qatar), Houcine Kharja (Sienna, Italy), Marouane Zemmama (Al Sha'ab), Mohamed Oulhaj (Raja Casablanca), Nabil Dirar (Bruges, Belgium), Issam Erraki (FAR)
Forwards:
Marouane Chamakh (Bordeaux), Moncef Zerka and Youssouf Hadji (Nancy, France), Nabil El Zhar (Liverpool, England)
