​Morocco’s World Cup star Ismael Saibari will be unable to take part in Thursday’s quarter-final clash with France, according to coach Mohamed Ouahbi. “Everyone is available except Saibari,” Ouahbi told reporters ahead of the match in Foxborough. The setback comes sooner than Saibari would have liked, but the coach expressed hope that the forward’s World Cup journey would not end early and that he might yet rejoin the squad later in the tournament. Saibari, who recently completed a move to Bayern Munich from PSV Eindhoven, was substituted after just 22 minutes during Morocco’s 3-0 victory over Canada in the last-16 on Saturday.
Earlier this week, media reports suggested Saibari had only a minor muscle strain, which had generated optimism about a swift return. The 23-year-old attacker has been a standout performer for Morocco in Qatar, contributing three goals and delivering a series of impressive displays at the World Cup as he helps the team push for a historic run.
Even with Saibari sidelined, Morocco remain confident about advancing to the semi-finals for the second consecutive World Cup. Ouahbi emphasized that he dislikes the notion of calling the campaign a success prematurely, underscoring that meaningful judgment should be reserved until the tournament concludes. He reaffirmed the team’s determination to defeat France and continue their bold bid for glory.
The match carries added historical weight: four years ago in Qatar, Morocco became the first African nation to reach the World Cup semi-finals, where they were edged by France. France then went on to the final, only to lose to Argentina. Ouahbi’s side will be hopeful of a similar path this time, undeterred by the absence of Saibari, as they aim to extend their remarkable run on the world stage.