​Ismael Saibari will be unavailable for Morocco’s World Cup quarter-final clash with France due to injury, as confirmed by coach Mohamed Ouahbi 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 decisive encounter at the Gillette Stadium near Boston.
Saibari, who recently joined Bayern Munich on a five-year deal from Dutch champions PSV Eindhoven for a reported fee of 50 million euros (about $57 million), has been one of the standout performers of the tournament. He found the back of the net in each of Morocco’s three group-stage games and then netted the winning penalty in the shoot-out as Morocco defeated the Netherlands in the last‑16.
However, the attacking midfielder sustained a hamstring issue during the 3-0 victory over Canada in the last-16 contest last Saturday and has not recovered in time for the upcoming match. Soufiane Rahimi, deployed as a traditional striker, came on to replace Saibari and subsequently scored Morocco’s third goal.
The Atlas Lions are determined to avenge their 2-0 exit to France in the semi-finals of the 2022 World Cup, a result that marked the first time an African or Arab nation had reached the tournament’s final four. This time around, Morocco’s objective is to extend that memorable run and reach the semi-finals again.
Ouahbi dismissed any suggestion that merely reaching the quarter-finals constitutes 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 stated. Since taking charge in March, Ouahbi has been resolute in his aim to push the team deeper into the tournament. He admitted that he watched the 2022 France-Morocco meeting as a fan, noting that the memory still resonates as a source of motivation.
On the other side, Morocco’s Real Madrid star Brahim Diaz stressed that his side can compete with the high-caliber French squad as they prepare to face Kylian Mbappe, Diaz’s teammate at club level. “Tomorrow we are playing one of the favorites, but we have shown that we can compete, which is why we are here. I have full faith and full confidence in the team,” Diaz said. He underscored the belief within the squad that they can challenge France and push for a place in the semi-finals.
The clash at the Gillette Stadium promises to be a high-stakes test for Morocco, who have captivated fans with their fearless, attacking approach throughout the tournament. With Saibari sidelined, the team’s depth will be tested as they attempt to translate their group-stage form into a victory over one of Europe’s heavyweight sides. The French, led by a squad featuring the likes of Mbappe and a host of world-class talents, will be intent on maintaining their status as one of the tournament’s frontrunners.
As Morocco eyes another historic landmark, the question remains whether the absence of Saibari will be felt in the creative and tempo-setting midfield, or whether Ouahbi can marshal a performance that eclipses expectations. The nation will be watching closely as the doors to the World Cup’s final four swing open, with a nation-and-diaspora-wide belief that this could be one of the defining nights in Moroccan football history.