Substituted as early as the 29th minute of the Klassiker between Bayern Munich and Dortmund, Ismaël Saibari was seen on crutches. His presence at Morocco’s November gathering, for the double header against Niger, is uncertain.
The Klassiker ended early for Ismaël Saibari. On Saturday, during the 8th matchday of the Bundesliga, the 25-year-old attacking midfielder left his teammates as early as the 29th minute of the clash between Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund, reports Afrik-foot.
After the match, the Moroccan was seen on crutches, again according to Afrik-foot. Bayern Munich must also deal with an injury to Serge Gnabry.
Eberl mentions more serious injuries
Max Eberl, Bayern Munich’s sporting director, admitted: “The two injuries are still a bit more serious”, referring to both Saibari and Serge Gnabry, according to Afrik-foot. A statement that fuels concerns around the Moroccan international.
The first indications point in the same direction: the substitution in the 29th minute and the crutches seen after the match paint a hardly reassuring picture.
A central role with Morocco
Since the start of the season, Saibari has two goals and three assists in eight Bundesliga matches, according to Afrik-foot. Figures that reflect his importance in his team’s attacking play.
For the national team, his importance is no less. Mohamed Ouahbi, Morocco’s head coach, has made him a central element of his system, notably in a false number nine role. An absence would therefore deprive him of a key element of his attacking play.
Hence the attention paid to his ankle. Physiotherapist Thamer Al-Shahrani, a specialist in sports injuries, mentions, without an official diagnosis, a possible significant ankle ligament injury, potentially extending to a rupture, or even damage to the knee ligaments. An opinion that should be treated with caution until examinations have settled the matter.
Niger in sight
Morocco’s November gathering and the double header against Niger, counting towards the 2027 AFCON qualifiers, are looming. Saibari’s participation in this gathering and in the two matches against Niger is uncertain, according to Afrik-foot.
Further examinations are expected to determine the exact nature of the injury and the player’s absence duration. No official diagnosis has yet been communicated, and this duration remains the main unknown for Morocco.