Morocco Loses Key Forward Ismael Saibari Before World Cup Quarter-Final Against France

Morocco will head into their World Cup quarter-final against France without their star forward Ismael Saibari, who remains sidelined due to a hamstring injury. The injury happened early in Morocco’s commanding 3-0 win over Canada in the round of 16, forcing Saibari off just 22 minutes into the match.

Injury Details and Team Update

Despite an MRI in Boston indicating the strain is not severe, the timing does not allow Saibari to recover in time for the crucial game against the tournament favourites. Coach Mohamed Ouahbi confirmed that Saibari will miss this game but expressed hope that the forward could return later if Morocco advances further.

"Everyone’s available, except Saibari, with the match coming too early for him, although he’s not out for the rest of the tournament, I hope. Everyone’s available, although we of course will only select the players who are at 100%." - Mohamed Ouahbi

Team Depth to Be Tested

Saibari has been instrumental for Morocco, scoring three key goals during the tournament and netting the decisive penalty that knocked out the Netherlands. Now, Soufiane Rahimi is expected to step up as the lead attacker. Coach Ouahbi trusts his squad’s depth to handle the challenge, emphasizing that every player has a role to play, whether starting or coming off the bench.

"When you want to go very far in a competition, you need everybody, and the players who cannot be in the starting 11 know that they have the opportunity to finish the match. We have starters, and then when others are subbed in, they can make a difference on the pitch for us. This is a positive for the group, and it’s something that gives us a lot of confidence." - Mohamed Ouahbi

Looking Ahead: Morocco's Chance for Redemption

The match in Boston is more than just a quarter-final; it’s a chance for Morocco to avenge their exit by France at the 2022 World Cup semi-finals in Qatar. On a brighter note, Morocco’s defense gains strength with the return of centre-back Chadi Riad, who missed the previous match due to injury.

Still, Morocco faces a tough task containing Kylian Mbappe and the French side, who enter the game on a six-match winning streak. A near-perfect performance will be required if Morocco aims to pull off another upset and move deeper into the tournament.