​Morocco’s plans for their World Cup quarterfinal against France were disrupted after the confirmation that their star forward Ismael Saibari will miss the match. Saibari picked up a hamstring injury in the last-16 victory over Canada and has not recovered in time for the decisive knockout clash, coach Mohamed Ouahbi confirmed on Wednesday. “Everyone is 100 percent fit except Saibari. This game comes too soon for him, but I hope he is not out for the rest of the competition,” Ouahbi told reporters ahead of Thursday’s last-eight showdown in Boston.
Saibari, who recently joined Bayern Munich from Dutch champions PSV Eindhoven on a five-year deal reported to be worth around 50 million euros ($57 million), has been among Morocco’s standout performers at the tournament. He scored in all three of the group games and converted the winning penalty in the shootout as Morocco edged the Netherlands in the last-32 round. Yet the attacking midfielder had to come off early with a hamstring issue in the 3-0 win over Canada in the last 16 and has not recovered in time for the upcoming match.
Should Morocco advance, Saibari might return for the semifinals. “He’s not ready, but I hope it’s not the end of the tournament for him,” Ouahbi said. Saibari left the field to receive medical attention after sustaining the injury against Canada, with Soufiane Rahimi stepping in for the forward and scoring Morocco’s third goal in that game.
The Atlas Lions, aiming to avenge their 2-0 defeat to France in the 2022 World Cup semifinal, are keen to build on a historic run that saw an African or Arab team reach the last four for the first time. That earlier milestone has provided a motivating backdrop, and the current squad is determined to extend their tournament journey beyond the quarterfinals. Ouahbi dismissed any narrative that suggested reaching the quarterfinals alone equates to a successful campaign. “We absolutely want to win the game tomorrow, so we will not listen to people who say it doesn’t matter if we go out now,” the coach said, signaling his intent to push for more than a mere slice of glory.
Ouahbi, who took charge of the team in March after replacing Walid Regragui, also reflected on his personal experience of the 2022 France-Morocco clash, admitting he watched the encounter as a fan on television. He emphasized that his side would approach the match with the same competitive mindset, seeking a place in the semifinals rather than accepting any “bonus” outcome.
In the buildup to the match, Morocco received encouragement from within their ranks. Real Madrid star Brahim Diaz, who shares a club connection with many of the Moroccans, asserted that his side can compete with the elite French squad. Diaz stated that Morocco has already demonstrated their ability to contend with the best and remains confident in the team’s capacity to deliver a strong performance against Kylian Mbappe, one of football’s most dangerous forwards. Diaz underscored the belief that the team’s collective strength and resilience can level the playing field against an opponent widely regarded as one of the tournament’s favorites.
The match in Boston looms large as Morocco pursue a historic upset in a knockout tie that could redefine expectations for African and Arab nations on the global stage. The absence of Saibari complicates their tactical blueprint, but the squad’s depth and proven pedigree in tournament settings provide hope that the team can still produce a performance worthy of a potential first-ever World Cup semifinal appearance for a Moroccan side. As they prepare to face France, the Moroccan camp remains focused on executing their plan, maximizing every available resource, and delivering a performance that could capture the imagination of fans around the world.