Morocco coach Mohamed Wahbi has been dealt a painful blow on the injury front, with the next international gathering and the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers approaching, as the number of injured players in the Atlas Lions squad has risen to four prominent names, most notably Azzedine Ounahi and Soufiane Rahimi.
The latest injury concerns Soufiane Rahimi, the Al Ain striker, who was forced off in the 27th minute of his side’s UAE President’s Cup round-of-16 match against Shabab Al Ahli after suffering a hamstring injury. The player left the pitch visibly upset, with the severity of the injury and its impact on his availability for the national team still to be determined.
As for Azzedine Ounahi, the Panathinaikos midfielder, he suffered a serious injury during his team’s match against Asteras on matchday seven of the Greek league, leaving the pitch on a stretcher less than 20 minutes into the game. Medical examinations, including an MRI scan, confirmed a grade three tear in his right biceps femoris, which is likely to rule him out for between two and a half and three months, and therefore keep him out of the two matches against Niger.
The pair join an injury list that also includes Chadi Riad, the Crystal Palace defender, and Ayoub El Kaabi, the Olympiacos striker, both of whom are carrying previous injuries that affect their readiness.
These absences come at a very sensitive time, as the Morocco national team prepares for two consecutive matches against Niger on 13 and 17 November, in the third and fourth rounds of the qualifiers for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations finals. The first match will be played at the Stade Mohammed V in Casablanca, while the second takes place at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat. Morocco currently top their group with six points after victories over Gabon and Lesotho.
This situation presents the technical staff with a new challenge, as Wahbi will have to reshuffle his options and search for alternatives capable of covering the potential absences in midfield and attack. The fitness of the injured players remains under close monitoring, pending final medical reports that will determine whether they can join the upcoming camp or will be absent from it.
Wahbi is expected to unveil his final squad list in the coming days, with fans waiting to see how the national coach handles this pressure ahead of the important continental assignment.
