Taoussi left out Queens Park Rangers forward Adel Taarabt and Arsenal striker Marouane Chamakh. Dutch-born striker Mounir El Hamdaoui returned to the squad for the first time since September after reviving his career on loan at Fiorentina from Ajax Amsterdam. The list also includes Aston Villa midfielder Karim El Ahmadi and Liverpool forward Oussama Assaidi.

The first match against Angola will be crucial for the qualification to the quarter-final from group A, Taoussi said in a press conference Wednesday in Rabat, adding that It's scheduled to go to Johannesburg on January 3.

"We're going to play two friendlies, the first on Jan. 8 against Zambia, the title holder, and the second on the 12th against Namibia." Taoussi added.

In Group A, Morocco will play against Angola in Johannesburg on January 19, and also face Cape Verde on January 23, then South Africa on January 27.

The squad

Goalkeepers: Khalid Askri (Raja Casablanca), Nadir Lamyaghri ( Wydad Casablanca), Anas Zniti (Maghreb Fes)

Defenders: Younes Belakhdar, Abderahim Achchakir (both Royal Armed Forces), Zakarya Bergdich (RC Lens), Abdelhamid El Kaoutari (Montpellier), Mehdi Benatia (Udinese), Issam El Adoua (Vitoria Guimaraes), Ahmed Kantari (Stade Brest)

Midfielders: Adil Hermach (Al Hilal Riyadh), Karim El Ahmadi ( Aston Villa), Younes Belhanda (Montpellier), Mehdi Namli (Moghreb Tetouan), Kamel Chafni (Stade Brest), Chahir Belghazouani (Ajaccio) , Abdelaziz Barrada (Getafe), Abdelilah Hafidi (Raja Casablanca)

Forwards: Oussama Assaidi (Liverpool), Nordin Amrabat ( Galatasaray), Abderrazak Hamdallah (Olympique Safi), Youssef El Arabi (Granada), Mounir El Hamdaoui (Fiorentina), Youssef Kaddioui (Royal Armed Forces).