El Kaoutari Out Of Morocco Squad

[Folami David]

Key Morocco defender Abdelhamid El Kaoutari has pulled out of his country's selection to face Bafana Bafana in Agadir on Friday in order to undergo a nose operation.
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El Kaoutari was a league winner with French club Montpellier last year and is seen as key to Morocco's plans for their hosting of the 2015 African Nations Cup finals but is now in conflict with coach Rachid Taoussi.
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He complained last month when he was left out of the starting line-up for the World Cup qualifier against the Ivory Coast – after returning from a two match suspension – and now has chosen to use the 10-day break from club football to go for a small nose procedure.
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Morocco will also be without striker Abderrazak Hamedallah because he has asked for time off to try and find a new club.
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He plays for Aalesund in Norway where the season is near an end and is seeking to use this week to negotiate a move for himself once his contract comes to an end.
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Morocco do not plan to call up replacements to their original 24-man squad. Friday's match is to mark the opening of the new Agadir Stadium, built for Morocco's hosting of the 2015 Nations Cup finals.