May 26 (Reuters) - New Morocco coach Mohamed Ouahbi ⁠has selected Nayef Aguerd in his 26-player World Cup squad despite the defender having not played ⁠since early March but left out forward Youssef En-Nesyri ahead of the finals in the United ‌States, Mexico and Canada.

Former national team under-20 coach Ouahbi took the reins in March from Walid Regragui, who led Morocco to the World Cup semi-finals in Qatar in 2022, and has made several changes to the selection.

Some of the old guard remain, such as Aguerd, captain Achraf ​Hakimi, Noussair Mazraoui and midfielder Sofyan Amrabat, but there are also new ⁠faces, not least former France junior international ⁠midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi, who has switched allegiances.

"A dream come true, but above all the start of a new chapter, ⁠with ‌even more work, rigor and responsibilities," Bouaddi said on X.

"I am aware of the privilege I have to defend these colours, and I will give everything to represent my country in the best possible way.

"A ⁠thought also for France. My choice in no way diminishes the pride ​and gratitude for having been ‌able to wear that jersey in my youth."

Marseille defender Aguerd has missed close to three months with ⁠injury and is still ​not fully recovered, but is in the group and will be given the chance to prove his fitness.

En-Nesyri was a central figure in Morocco reaching the last four in 2022, and was part of their squad at the Africa Cup of Nations ⁠on home soil that finished in January.

Goalkeeper Ahmed Tagnaouti helped Royal ​Armed Forces to the final of the African Champions League, where they lost to South Africa's Mamelodi Sundowns on Sunday, and is rewarded with a first call-up since the 2022 World Cup.

He has not won a cap for Morocco since ⁠2019 and will be behind first-choice Yassine Bounou in the pecking order.

Morocco open their World Cup Group C campaign against Brazil in New Jersey on June 13, followed six days later by a clash with Scotland in Boston and then a final pool fixture against Haiti in Miami on June 24.

Squad:

Goalkeepers: Yassine Bounou (Al Hilal), Munir Mohamedi (RS Berkane), Ahmed ​Tagnaouti (Royal Armed Forces)

Defenders: Noussair Mazraoui (Manchester United), Anass Salah-Eddine (PSV Eindhoven), Youssef Belammari (Al Ahly), Nayef ⁠Aguerd (Marseille), Chadi Riad (Crystal Palace), Issa Diop (West Ham United), Redouane Halhal (KV Mechelen), Achraf Hakimi (Paris St-Germain), Zakaria El Ouahdi (Genk)

Midfielders: Samir El Mourabet (Strasbourg), ​Ayyoub Bouaddi (Lille), Neil El Aynaoui (Roma), Sofyan Amrabat (Real Betis), Azzedine Ounahi (Girona), Bilal El ‌Khannouss (Stuttgart), Ismael Saibari (PSV Eindhoven)

Forwards: Abdessamad Ezzalzouli (Real Betis), Chemsdine Talbi (Sunderland), ​Soufiane Rahimi (Al Ain), Ayoub El Kaabi (Olympiacos), Brahim Diaz (Real Madrid), Yassine Gessime (Strasbourg), Ayoub Amaimouni-Echghouyabe (Eintracht Frankfurt)

Reserves: Goalkeeper El Mehdi Al Harrar (Raja Casablanca), centre-back Marwane Saâdane (Al-Fateh) and winger Amine Sbaï (Angers).

(Reporting by Nick Said, editing by Pritha Sarkar)