Head coach Mohamed Ouahbi has to deal with an injury wave before the double-header against Niger on 13 and 17 November. Midfielders Ismael Saibari of Bayern Munich and Azzedine Ounahi of Panathinaikos, both operated on, are out for several months.
Injuries are piling up for the Atlas Lions. According to Telexpress, Mohamed Ouahbi is preparing for the two AFCON 2027 qualifiers with several players absent or doubtful. The first, Morocco-Niger, is played on 13 November; the return leg takes place in Niger on 17 November.
Morocco’s squad list is due to be published by Ouahbi on 4 November, according to FootAfrica. It was not yet known at the time of writing.
Saibari and Ounahi, the two blows
Midfielder Ismael Saibari suffered a rupture of the tibiofibular ligament in his right ankle during the match against Dortmund with Bayern Munich. Operated on, he will be out for several months, reports Telexpress. A blow for the midfield.
Azzedine Ounahi, the Panathinaikos midfielder, injured the tendon of his right biceps femoris on 18 October, against Asteras Tripolis. Operated on, he will be sidelined for between two and a half and three months, according to the same source. Two Moroccan midfielders are therefore unavailable for this camp.
El Kaabi in rehabilitation, Rahimi in limbo
Up front, Ayoub El Kaabi, the 33-year-old Olympiakos striker, is continuing his rehabilitation after a fracture of the left tibia sustained in early September.
The participation of Soufiane Rahimi, a striker injured in the hamstring on 22 October, remains uncertain. Chadi Riad is also among the absentees or doubtful cases. The participation of these players in the double-header is therefore not guaranteed.
Solutions under consideration in the press
Faced with these absences, the press mentions possibilities rather than choices. Amine Harit, the OM attacking midfielder, could benefit from the situation, alongside Bilal El Khannouss, Neil El Aynaoui and Ayoub Bouaddi, according to Telexpress. These names are hypotheses, not a decision by the head coach.
In attack, Youssef En-Nesyri or Yasser Zabiri could step in, the same source suggests. Hamza Igamane is awaiting a return to full fitness after a serious knee injury.