Panathinaikos announced on Thursday 29 October the successful operation on Azzedine Ounahi, who suffered damage to the tendon of his right biceps femoris. The Morocco international midfielder will miss the national team’s two matches against Niger in November.
The statement came out on Thursday 29 October: Panathinaikos announced that Azzedine Ounahi “underwent successful surgery today to repair the tendon of his right biceps femoris”, reports Sport.fr. The Morocco international midfielder, one of the key men in the Athens side’s play, is beginning his recovery, away from both the pitch and national team gatherings.
The diagnosis worsened within a few days. Initial estimates, reported by Radio Mars, suggested a third-degree tear and two and a half to three months out. A second MRI then revealed a complete rupture of the tendon, making surgery inevitable, according to the Greek daily Ole, cited by Sport.fr.
Carried off on a stretcher on 18 October
The injury dates back to the match of 18 October, a 5-1 win for Panathinaikos against Asteras. Ounahi had left the pitch on a stretcher, his right thigh in agony, according to Sport.fr.
The procedure was carried out under the supervision of club doctor Haris Lalos, orthopaedic surgeon Nicolas Lefèvre and Christophe Baudot, doctor of the Morocco national team and medical consultant at PSG, according to Foot Mercato, via Sport.fr.
According to Ole, Ounahi is expected to return around early April 2027, at the time of the Greek league play-offs.
Hakimi the first visitor
Achraf Hakimi, the PSG and Morocco international full-back, was the first to visit Ounahi after the operation, according to the Athens club.
Ounahi burst onto the world stage at the 2022 World Cup with Morocco and had established himself as one of the key men in the Athens side’s play, Sport.fr recalls.
Jacob Neestrup, the Panathinaikos coach, makes no secret of his pain. “His absence is a huge blow, because he is one of the best players in the team. He didn’t deserve this. He has to fight to come back,” he said, quoted by Sport.fr via Morocco World News.
Niger, then recovery
On the international front, Ounahi will miss Morocco’s two matches against Niger, scheduled for 13 and 17 November, in the CAN 2027 qualifiers. His participation in the spring gatherings remains dependent on his recovery.