Monday’s MRI confirmed a grade 3 tear of the right biceps femoris for Panathinaikos midfielder Azzedine Ounahi. He will miss Morocco’s double header against Niger in November.
The verdict is in. The results of the MRI taken on the morning of Monday 19 October 2026 confirm a grade 3 tear of the right biceps femoris for Azzedine Ounahi, according to Radio Mars and ERT Sports. The Panathinaikos midfielder is suffering from a complete rupture of the muscle belly, the most serious stage of this injury, Radio Mars reports.
The layoff is set at between two and a half and three months, pushing his return back to the start of 2027, according to Elbotola and Radio Mars. This absence deprives national team coach Mohamed Ouahbi of one of his key men for the CAN 2027 qualifying double header against Niger.
An injury on a stretcher
Ounahi was injured on Sunday in the 7th round of the Greek league against Asteras Tripolis (5-1 win), being carried off on a stretcher as early as the 19th minute, according to Hespress and Elbotola. The 26-year-old had returned to Panathinaikos on 2 September 2026 after a spell at Girona FC, scoring 3 goals in 8 matches, according to Radio Mars.
Morocco deprived of a key man
This long absence means he is officially ruled out of the CAN 2027 qualifying double header against Niger, scheduled for 13 November in Casablanca and 17 November in Rabat, according to Afrik-Foot and Radio Mars. Coach Mohamed Ouahbi will have to build his midfield without one of his usual key men, Afrik-Foot stresses.
A headache for the Moroccan coach: the layoff, estimated at between two and a half and three months, points to a return to the pitch at the start of 2027, with no precise date.
Harit, an opportunity according to observers
The injury coincides with Amine Harit’s revival, the Olympique de Marseille attacking midfielder scoring on two consecutive Ligue 1 matchdays (at Troyes and Angers), according to Médias24 and Afrik-Foot. He has not been called up with the Atlas Lions since the 2023 CAN in Ivory Coast against South Africa, Médias24 reports.
Moroccan observers see this reshuffle as a major opportunity for Harit ahead of the November gathering, according to Médias24 and Afrik-Foot. Morocco must first host Niger in Casablanca on 13 November, before the meeting in Rabat on 17 November.