David Ancelotti, the manager of French club Lille, has revealed that Moroccan striker Hamza Ighamane is making significant progress towards full recovery and is on track to rejoin the team following a serious injury to his cruciate ligaments in January 2026. This injury occurred during the final match of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, where Morocco faced Senegal. After being sidelined for over eight months, Lille eagerly anticipates Ighamane's return, particularly after his outstanding performance in the first half of the 2025-2026 season, where he emerged as one of the standout stars in Ligue 1.
During a recent training session on Friday, Ighamane made a notable appearance, which sparked discussions and questions among Moroccan football circles regarding when he would officially return to competitive play. Despite this excitement, Ancelotti emphasized that while there are positive signs in Ighamane's rehabilitation program, his return to the field remains postponed. In a press conference ahead of the match against Nice on Saturday, the Italian coach provided insights into the collective training photo featuring Ighamane, which had intrigued many observers, as expectations grew that he might be included in the squad for the upcoming match.
However, Ancelotti clarified that Ighamane is not part of the immediate game plans. He explained that the striker's participation in the group photo and his return to training stem from the player's strong desire to be with his teammates and to embark on the final phase of his physical rehabilitation before fully integrating into team practices. Ancelotti highlighted that this period spent with his colleagues is primarily a morale and mental boost, marking a positive step as they await the player's full readiness to compete, which is likely to happen next month.
Lille currently leads the French league with a total of 10 points from their first four matches, heading into the away game against Nice with high spirits. The team remains unbeaten in the league, having secured three victories and one draw, and boasts one of the best defensive records in the league, conceding only two goals.
As reported by eremnews.com.
