Morocco will be without midfielder Ismael Saibari for their World Cup quarter-final against France on Thursday night. The 25-year-old sustained a hamstring injury during the Atlas Lions’ 3-0 victory over Canada in the round of 16 and has failed to recover in time for the last-eight fixture at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough.
Head coach Mohamed Ouahbi confirmed the Bayern Munich newcomer’s absence during his pre-match press conference on Wednesday. The injury forces Ouahbi into a tactical reshuffle as the North African side prepare to face the defending champions in Massachusetts.
“Everyone is available except Saibari,” Ouahbi stated. “The match comes too soon for him, although I hope he’s not out for the rest of the tournament.”
Squad depth offers reassurance
Despite losing the influential midfielder, who recently completed a high-profile transfer to German champions Bayern Munich, Ouahbi expressed confidence in his squad’s collective strength. The coach highlighted that Morocco’s bench options could prove decisive against France, emphasising the importance of every member of the 26-man selection remaining ready to contribute.
“When you want to go very far in a competition, you need everybody,” Ouahbi explained. “The players who are not in the starting XI know they have the opportunity to make an impact when they come on.”
He continued: “We have our starters, but the players coming off the bench can make a real difference for us. That’s a huge strength for this group and something that gives us a lot of confidence.”
Fresh injury concern
Saibari was forced off during Morocco’s comfortable win against Canada in the previous round, cutting short his involvement in the knockout phase opener. The setback comes at a particularly unfortunate moment for the player, who had been establishing himself within the national team setup ahead of his move to the Bundesliga giants.
The 25-year-old now faces a race against time to regain fitness should Morocco progress beyond Thursday’s encounter. Ouahbi’s comments suggest the medical team are managing the hamstring issue cautiously, prioritising the player’s potential availability for later rounds over a rushed return against France.
Fixture details
The quarter-final kicks off at 22:00 CEST on Thursday evening at Gillette Stadium. Morocco are seeking to continue their impressive tournament run, while France aim to advance to the semi-finals of the competition.