Injury Keeps Nayef Aguerd from Competing in AFCON Qualifiers

Nayef Aguerd, the Moroccan defender, has been ruled out of his national team's journey to South Africa on Sunday, where they are set to face Lesotho in the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers. The player’s injury prevents him from participating in the remaining matches during the international break, which is a significant setback for the national team, known as the Atlas Lions. The Moroccan Football Federation confirmed via its social media platforms that Aguerd would not be traveling with the squad for the second group stage match of the AFCON qualifiers and that there would be no replacement for him in the roster.

The Olympique Marseille star, a cornerstone of Morocco's defense, will remain in Morocco to continue his rehabilitation program at the Mohammed VI Football Complex, the training ground for the Moroccan national team since the beginning of the international break. His recovery will be supervised by the coaching staff of the Moroccan U-23 national team, who are in charge of managing the rehabilitation programs for injured first-team players.

Challenges Ahead for Morocco's National Team

Aguerd's injury comes as a harsh blow to the Moroccan national team, putting coach Mohammed Wahbi in a challenging position as he prepares for the upcoming clash against Lesotho. The absence of Aguerd requires a reorganization of the defensive lineup, adding to the difficulties posed by other recent absences, notably that of Ibrahim Diaz, the Real Madrid star. Last Friday, Aguerd played a key role in the opening match of the AFCON 2027 qualifiers against Gabon, where he provided an assist in a 2-0 victory, showcasing his abilities throughout the match. However, he sustained the injury that has now been confirmed through medical tests conducted today.

The 29-year-old player was on the verge of transferring to Real Sociedad last summer, but his struggles with injuries derailed the deal, leading his club, Olympique Marseille, to retain him until the end of the 2026-2027 season. Notably, Aguerd also missed the Moroccan squad for the 2026 World Cup due to injury concerns. As Morocco prepares for the match against Lesotho on Tuesday, they are likely to be without the services of three key players, including Nayef Aguerd, Ibrahim Diaz, and Tofiq Ben Taib, a forward from the Belgian team Anderlecht, although Diaz has already traveled to South Africa.

As reported by eremnews.com.