In a symbolic moment that excited Moroccan fans, the national team announced on Wednesday, December 17, 2025, that young striker Hamza Ighaman will wear the number seven jersey, which has been associated with Hakim Ziyech in recent years.
According to the national team, Hamza will wear the number 7 during the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations, set to kick off in Morocco in a few days.
Øمزة إيغمان ÙŠØصل على الرقم 7pic.twitter.com/CBSuJKvpOQ
— Tanja7 (@Tanja7com) December 17, 2025
This number, which was previously worn by star Hakim Ziyech for many years, is considered one of the most prominent numbers in the history of the Atlas Lions, associated with Ziyech’s creativity and magical passes, especially during the 2022 World Cup, where he contributed to the historic achievement of the Moroccan team.
Hamza Ighaman: The Rising Reserve Star
Hamza Ighaman, 22 years old, a striker for Lille in France, has shone this season by scoring crucial goals, making him one of the promising talents in Moroccan football. He began his career at the Royal Army Academy, then moved to Scottish Rangers before joining Lille.
With the national team, he scored two goals in a few matches, raising great hopes that he would be a strong addition to the attack alongside Youssef En-Nesyri and Ayoub El Kaabi. However, the joy of being given the number 7 was soon dimmed by an injury.
Ighaman suffered an injury to his hamstring during Lille’s match against Marseille in early December, and his coach Bruno Genesio confirmed that the injury could take at least 5 weeks to heal. As a result, national coach Walid Regragui included him only in the reserve list (along with Youssef Belaili) in the final squad announced on December 11, with subsequent confirmations of his official absence from the tournament.
Despite this, the official video of the jersey reflects the coaching staff’s confidence in his future recovery and sends a positive message about passing the torch to the new generation.
Hakim Ziyech: The Significant Absence
At the same time, the final list saw the exclusion of Hakim Ziyech, who currently plays for Wydad Casablanca. Despite his attempts to return to form, Regragui decided to rely on other players like Ibrahim Diazz, Sofiane Rahimi, and Abdel Samad El Zalzouli on the right flank. This exclusion sparked widespread discussions among fans, who see Ziyech as a symbol of creativity, but it reflects Regragui’s direction towards a combination of experience and youth.
Africa Cup 2025: A Historic Opportunity on Home Soil
The tournament kicks off on December 21, 2025, with Morocco opening against the Comoros Islands, and the Atlas Lions aspire to win their second title in history (after 1976) on home soil. Despite the absence of Ighaman and Ziyech, the squad remains strong with stars like Achraf Hakimi (who has recovered from his injury), Yassine Bono, and Ibrahim Diazz.
Follow Tanja7 on GOOGLE NEWS and Facebook. Also on Instagram. In addition to X and Nabd App.
