Chelsea forward Hakim Ziyech has not been recalled to Morocco’s squad for the Africa Cup of Nations next month.

The 28-year-old missed all six of his country’s 2022 World Cup qualifiers this year, and has not played for the Atlas Lions since a friendly against Burkina Faso in July.

Wolves centre-back Romain Saiss is included by Vahid Halilhodozic, as are Watford duo Adam Masina and Imran Louza, and QPR midfielder Ilias Chair.

Paris St-Germain defender Achraf Hakimi is also in the squad.

Morocco are in Group C alongside Ghana, Comoros and Gabon for the tournament in Cameroon, which begins on 9 January and lasts until 6 February.
Ajax defender Noussair Mazraoui is absent and, along with Ziyech, his omission comes after reports the former club-mates have fallen out with Halilhodzic.

Ziyech’s availability in the new year will be a boost for Chelsea, who are chasing the Premier League title and take on Tottenham in a two-legged League Cup semi-final either side of an FA Cup third-round tie against non-league Chesterfield on 8 January.

The west London club are also set to play in the Fifa Club World Cup in February.

Comoros also named their squad on Thursday for what will be their first-ever appearance at the Africa Cup of Nations.

The side, ranked 132 in the world, only lost one game in qualification, away to Egypt.

They include veteran defender Nadjim Abodu, who spent a decade at Millwall, and Red Star Belgrade forward El Fardou Ben Mohamed.

Amir Abdou, coach of the Indian Ocean islanders, has drawn heavily on players based in France – with none of the squad playing in Comoros.

Morocco squad for Afcon 2021
Goalkeepers: Yassine Bounou (Sevilla, Spain), Monir El Kajoui, (Hatayspor, Turkey), Anas Zniti (Raja Casablanca, Morocco).

Defenders: Achraf Hakimi (Paris Saint-Germain, France), Sofiane Alakouch (Metz, France), Souffian El Karouani (NEC Nijmegen, Netherlands), Adam Masina (Watford, England), Sofian Chakla (OH Leuven, Belgium), Samy Mmaee (Ferencvaros, Hungary), Romain Saiss (Wolves, England), Nayef Aguerd (Rennes, France).

Midfielders: Aymen Barkok (Eintracht Frankfurt, Germany), Sofyan Amrabat (Fiorentina, Italy), Faycal Fajr (Sivaspor, Turkey), Azzedine Ounahi (Angers, France), Ilias Chair (QPR, England), Imran Louza (Watford, England), Selim Amallah (Standard Liege, Belgium).

Forwards: Munir El Haddadi (Sevilla, Spain), Zakaria Aboukhlal (AZ Alkmaar, Netherlands), Abdessamad Ezzalzouli (Barcelona, Spain), Sofiane Boufal (Angers, France), Ryan Mmaee (Ferencvaros, Hungary), Youssef En-Nesyri (Sevilla, Spain), Ayoub El Kaabi (Hatayspor, Turkey).