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Aguerd and Ezzalzouli ruled out, double blow for Morocco ahead of World Cup

Two days before their opening match against Brazil, the Atlas Lions lose their central defender Nayef Aguerd, sidelined by chronic pubic pain, and Betis winger Abde Ezzalzouli, who suffered a knee sprain against Norway.

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Aguerd and Ezzalzouli ruled out, double blow for Morocco ahead of World Cup
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Morocco enters the World Cup without two key players. Nayef Aguerd and Abde Ezzalzouli have both been ruled out, forty-eight hours before the Atlas Lions’ first match against Brazil on Saturday in Group C.

Aguerd has been dealing with pubic pain that hampered him throughout the season and forced him to undergo surgery in early March. The Morocco international failed to recover in time for the tournament. Ezzalzouli, meanwhile, suffered a knee injury in the final warm-up match against Norway. Diagnosed with a moderate ligament sprain, the Betis Seville player was expected to be unavailable for two to four weeks, which would have ruled him out of the entire group stage. The Morocco coaching staff initially considered keeping him in hopes of recovering him for a potential round of 16, but ultimately opted to replace him.

FIFA confirmed both departures and announced their replacements: central defender Marwane Saadane (Al Fateh) and left winger Amine Sbai (Angers) join the squad.

Placed in Group C, Morocco will then face Scotland on June 19, then Haiti on June 24. The group winner will face the runner-up from Group F — comprising Japan, Netherlands, Sweden and Tunisia — in the round of 16.

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