Ismael Saibari will not play for Morocco in their World Cup quarterfinal against France on Thursday, head coach Mohamed Ouahbi confirmed at a pre-match press conference in Foxborough on Wednesday. The PSV Eindhoven forward, who secured a €50 million move to Bayern Munich on July 1, suffered a hamstring injury during Morocco’s round-of-16 win over Canada and has not recovered in time for the France clash.
Ouahbi told reporters that Saibari remains the only player unavailable for selection, though he expressed hope the 25-year-old would return before the tournament ends. “Everyone’s available, except Saibari, with the match coming too early for him,” the coach said. “Although he’s not out for the rest of the tournament, I hope.”
Hamstring Strain Rules Saibari Out Despite MRI Relief
Saibari was substituted off in the 22nd minute of Morocco’s 3-0 victory over Canada in Houston, visibly struggling with the injury. After the squad arrived in Boston, an MRI conducted on Monday indicated the hamstring strain is not severe enough to end his tournament, but the quarterfinal has come too soon for him to be passed fit.
The timing is a significant blow for the Atlas Lions. Saibari has been their most dangerous attacker throughout the competition, scoring the opener against Brazil, the winner against Scotland, and the equalizer against Haiti in the group stage. Against the Netherlands in the round of 32, he stepped up to convert the decisive penalty in a shootout win, a moment that carried extra weight given his entire club career has been spent in the Dutch top flight with PSV.
His €50 million transfer to Bayern Munich, completed on July 1, made him the second most expensive Moroccan footballer of all time, behind only Achraf Hakimi.
Rahimi Expected to Start as Morocco Back-Squad Depth
With Saibari unavailable, Soufiane Rahimi is expected to lead Morocco’s attack. Rahimi came off the bench to replace Saibari against Canada and is now the frontrunner to start against France. Ouahbi made clear he is relying on the collective strength of his squad rather than any single player.
“When you want to go very far in a competition, you need everybody, and the players who cannot be in the starting 11 know that they have the opportunity to finish the match,” the coach said. “We have starters, and then when others are subbed in, they can make a difference on the pitch for us. That is a positive for the group, and it’s something that gives us a lot of confidence.”
Ouahbi also appeared to confirm the return of Crystal Palace defender Chadi Riad, who started the tournament as first-choice center-back following Nayef Aguerd’s late withdrawal from the squad. Riad had built a promising partnership with Issa Diop before an undisclosed injury forced him out of the Canada fixture. His replacement, Redouane Halhal, did not convince in that role. Riad now appears set to reclaim his starting spot for the France match.
Morocco and France Meet Again After 2022 Semifinal Defeat
Thursday’s quarterfinal carries historical weight for Morocco. The last time these two sides met was at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, where France eliminated the Atlas Lions in the semifinal. That result came in the same run in which Morocco became the first African nation to reach the last four of a World Cup, a milestone that cemented the team’s standing in global football.
France enters the quarterfinal as tournament favorites. Their coach Didier Deschamps publicly acknowledged Morocco as opponents deserving of respect ahead of the fixture, according to reports from the French camp. The Atlas Lions will look to reverse the 2022 result and reach the semifinals for the second consecutive World Cup.
Ouahbi insisted his squad’s depth makes them dangerous regardless of absentees. Morocco were not expected to beat France in 2022 either, and they pushed Les Bleus hard before falling at that stage. Without Saibari, the burden shifts to Rahimi and the rest of the squad to carry the Atlas Lions into the final four once more. Kickoff is scheduled for Thursday at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough.
