Morocco have had a huge blow in advance of their trip to the FIFA World Cup, with the loss of two key players to injury within days of their first game against Brazil. The national team has had to shuffle its lineup with the resignation of defender Nayef Aguerd and winger Abde Ezzalzouli being ruled out of the tournament.
In response to this, Morocco have changed their lineup sending in defender Marwane Saadane and attacker Amine Sbai for the two sides. Changes have finally been formally announced by the Moroccan Football Federation and the Football Federation of the International Federation of Associations (FIFA) ahead of the team’s Group C debut against the Brazil National Football Team at the New York/ New Jersey Stadium.
One of Morocco’s more veteran defenders, Aguerd, missed his last game in March after undergoing surgery for his groin condition. A setback to his recovery was when medical tests showed a fracture in his pubic bone. The hopes of a possible recovery in time for the World Cup ended up as Paramount mabye, as Morocco coach Mohamed Ouahabi ultimately ruled the defender out, because he didn’t feel like he was fit enough for the tournament.
In the meantime, Ezzalzouli also suffered a PCL injury in a friendly match against Norway, while warming up. Chadi Riad hit the winger accidentally on a defending corner as they were throwing in the ball. He tried to stay on the pitch, but was pushed out.
Aguerd, along with Ezzalzouli, was also an important part of the Team Morocco that went to Qatar for the 2022 FIFA World Cup semi-finals and the Africa Cup of Nations final this year. They are a major setback for Morocco’s chances of a good start in the game.
Saadane and Sbai would have been on the bench for the national team and are deemed ready to plant their feet. Morocco will now look to the fresher fronts of the starting line-up to be able to do so in a match that is one of the toughest early challenges of the tournament.