Hearts midfielder handed Nations Cup call-up

LIBREVILLE (Reuters) - Midfielder Faycal Rherras, who plays at Edinburgh club Hearts, has been called up by Morocco to their African Nations Cup squad as an injury replacement, the Moroccan Football Federation said on Saturday.

The 23-year-old, who was born in Belgium and has earned a single cap for Morocco, replaces Sofiane Boufal, who pulled out of the tournament because of injury.

Morocco have already lost key midfielder Younes Belhanda and attackers Noureddine Amrabat and Oussama Tannane to injury ahead of the finals in Gabon, which kick off on Saturday. Morocco begin their campaign on Monday in Group C against the Democratic Republic of Congo.

(Reporting by Mark Gleeson; Editing by Peter Rutherford)