Blow for Morocco: Saibari to miss the clash against France
Coach Mohamed Ouahbi has confirmed that Ismael Saibari, Morocco's top scorer of the tournament, will miss the quarter-final against France due to an adductor injury.
France
Morocco- 90'Final score: France 2 - 0 Morocco
- 87'Substitution: ↑ M. Gusto / ↓ J. Kounde (France)
- 85'Substitution: ↑ A. Sbai / ↓ C. Talbi (Morocco)
- 77'Substitution: ↑ B. Barcola / ↓ D. Doue (France)
- 77'Substitution: ↑ J. Mateta / ↓ K. Mbappe (France)
- 74'Substitution: ↑ Z. El Ouahdi / ↓ A. Salah-Eddine (Morocco)
- 74'Substitution: ↑ G. Yassine / ↓ B. Diaz (Morocco)
- 71'Substitution: ↑ W. Zaire-Emery / ↓ M. Kone (France)
- 66'⚽ Goal for France (O. Dembele)
- 63'Yellow card: Issa Diop (Morocco)
- 62'Substitution: ↑ S. Rahimi / ↓ B. El Khannouss (Morocco)
- 62'Substitution: ↑ S. Amrabat / ↓ A. Bouaddi (Morocco)
- 60'⚽ Goal for France (K. Mbappe)
- 45'Half-time
- 28'Penalty missed: Kylian Mbappé (France)
- 0'Kick-off
Morocco coach Mohamed Ouahbi has confirmed that Ismael Saibari will miss the 2026 World Cup quarter-final against France, due to an adductor injury sustained in the match against Canada.
"Apart from Saibari, everyone is available," Ouahbi said, explaining that the recovery timeline made his participation in this match impossible, while expressing hope of seeing him return in later rounds should Morocco advance.
Saibari is Morocco's top scorer of the tournament with 3 goals in 5 matches, and had to leave the pitch as early as the 22nd minute against Canada due to the same injury.
Despite the significance of this absence, Ouahbi refused to use it as an excuse, insisting the rest of the squad was in good physical shape and that the ambition of reaching the semi-final remained intact.
The Atlas Lions now face a star-studded French attack featuring Kylian Mbappé, Ousmane Dembélé, Bradley Barcola and Michael Olise.
