Morocco will be without one of its key players when it faces France in the FIFA World Cup quarter final, with head coach Mohamed Ouahbi confirming that Ismael Saibari has not recovered in time for the crucial encounter.
Speaking ahead of Thursday’s clash at Gillette Stadium near Boston, Ouahbi said every player in the squad is fully fit except Saibari, whose recovery from injury has not progressed quickly enough for him to feature.
According to the coach, the match has come too soon for the midfielder, although he expressed hope that the injury would not rule him out for the remainder of the tournament.
Saibari, who recently completed a reported 50 million euro move from Dutch champions PSV Eindhoven to Bayern Munich on a five year contract, has been one of Morocco’s standout performers at the World Cup.
The attacking midfielder found the net in all three of Morocco’s group stage matches before converting the decisive penalty in the shootout victory over the Netherlands in the Round of 32.
His impressive run was cut short during Morocco’s 3 nil victory over Canada in the Round of 16, where he was forced off early with a hamstring injury. He has not recovered sufficiently to take part in the quarter final.
Soufiane Rahimi replaced Saibari during that match and went on to score Morocco’s third goal, strengthening his case for another appearance against France.
The Atlas Lions head into the fixture determined to avenge their 2 nil defeat to France in the semi finals of the 2022 FIFA World Cup. That campaign saw Morocco become the first African and Arab nation to reach the last four of the competition, and the team is now aiming to equal or even surpass that historic achievement.
Ouahbi dismissed suggestions that reaching the quarter finals should already be considered enough success for his side. He insisted the players remain fully focused on extending their remarkable run.
According to the coach, the objective is clear. Morocco wants to defeat France and book a place in the semi finals. He said he does not agree with the view that everything achieved beyond the quarter finals should simply be seen as a bonus, adding that the team is determined to keep making history.
Ouahbi, who succeeded Walid Regragui in March, also recalled watching the 2022 meeting between Morocco and France as a supporter on television before taking charge of the national team.
Real Madrid forward Brahim Diaz also expressed confidence ahead of the showdown, saying Morocco has already shown it can compete with the world’s best despite France being regarded as one of the tournament favourites.
Diaz, who is set to face his club teammate Kylian Mbappe, said the Moroccan squad has complete belief in its ability and is ready to rise to the challenge.
