Morocco have been dealt a significant injury setback ahead of Thursday’s FIFA World Cup quarter-final against France, with influential forward Ismael Saibari ruled out through injury.
Head coach Mohamed Ouahbi confirmed on Wednesday that the 25-year-old will miss the last-eight encounter after sustaining a hamstring strain during Morocco’s 3-0 Round of 16 victory over Canada in Houston on Saturday.
Saibari was forced off after just 22 minutes following an apparent muscle problem. An MRI scan conducted on Monday after the squad arrived in Boston confirmed the injury is not serious enough to end his World Cup campaign, but he has not recovered in time to face France.
“Everyone is available, except Saibari, with the match coming too early for him,” Ouahbi told reporters at his pre-match press conference.
“He’s not out for the rest of the tournament, I hope.”
Saibari has been one of Morocco’s standout performers at the tournament, scoring in the group stage victories over Brazil, Scotland and Haiti before converting the decisive penalty in the Round of 32 shoot-out triumph over the Netherlands.
The Ismael Saibari forward recently completed a reported €50 million transfer from PSV Eindhoven to Bayern Munich on 1 July.
With Saibari unavailable, Soufiane Rahimi, who replaced him against Canada, is expected to spearhead Morocco’s attack against the French.
Ouahbi also provided a positive fitness update on defender Chadi Riad, revealing that the centre-back is expected to return after missing the Canada match through injury.
Morocco will be aiming to avenge their defeat to France in the 2022 World Cup semi-finals, where they made history by becoming the first African nation to reach the last four of the tournament.