Morocco Loses Key Forward Ismael Saibari Ahead of France World Cup Quarter-final

Morocco will enter their World Cup quarter-final against France without star forward Ismael Saibari. The Bayern Munich forward, who was signed for €50 million recently, suffered a hamstring injury and has not recovered in time for the match in Boston.

Injury Forces Saibari Out

Saibari's injury occurred just 22 minutes into Morocco’s 3-0 victory over Canada in the round of 16. An MRI scan conducted in Boston showed the strain is not severe, yet the timing means Saibari can’t feature against the tournament favorites. His absence is a significant loss for the Atlas Lions, given his key role throughout the competition.

Coach Ouahbi Confirms Absence

Morocco’s head coach, Mohamed Ouahbi, addressed the media ahead of the game, confirming Saibari’s unavailability. He emphasized that only fully fit players will be selected for the clash but expressed hope that Saibari might return later in the tournament if Morocco progresses further.

“Everyone’s available except Saibari. The match has come too early for him, though I hope he’s not out for the rest of the tournament. We will select only players at 100%,” Ouahbi stated.

Squad Depth Tested

Saibari has been Morocco’s standout player, scoring three goals during the campaign and converting the decisive penalty against the Netherlands in the round of 32. With him sidelined, Soufiane Rahimi is expected to lead the attack. Coach Ouahbi remains confident that the squad’s depth can still pose a threat to their opponents.

“To go far in a competition, you need everyone. Players outside the starting eleven know they have chances to impact the game when brought on. This dynamic gives us confidence,” Ouahbi explained.

Chance for Redemption in Boston

The match at Boston Stadium doubles as a chance for Morocco to seek revenge after France eliminated them in the 2022 World Cup semi-finals. There is some good news as center-back Chadi Riad returns to the lineup after missing the previous game due to injury. Still, Morocco will need a flawless defensive effort to stop Kylian Mbappe and the French team, who are riding a six-game winning streak in the tournament.