In recent hours, Moroccan media outlets have been racing to unveil the plans of national team coach Mohamed Wahbi, who is tasked with compensating for what has been described in various media and social media platforms as a "double tragedy". This unfortunate incident has affected two pivotal players in the Atlas Lions' squad, just under two weeks before the team gathers to prepare for their upcoming matches against Gabon and Lesotho in the opening round of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.
The first setback for the coach of the Under-20 World Champions occurred in mid-August, when Crystal Palace defender Shadi Riyad suffered a severe injury during his match against Everton. The Premier League opener ended with Everton securing a 2-0 victory, but Riyad's injury forced him to undergo surgery on his knee's cruciate ligament, raising significant doubts about his recovery and potential return to the field before the season concludes.
The grim news continued for coach Mohamed Wahbi when he learned of the horrific injury sustained by striker Ayoub El Kaabi during his team Olympiacos' match against Volos over the weekend. This incident unfolded in the 44th minute of the first half when El Kaabi was one-on-one with goalkeeper Marios Siampanis, who unfortunately fell onto El Kaabi's leg, resulting in a broken left leg. This distressing scene is not recommended for the faint-hearted.
Local newspaper "Al-Muntakhab" reported that the national team coach will not sit idly by following the exits of Shadi Riyad and Ayoub El Kaabi from his future plans. Instead, he is considering the rising prospect of French club Rennes center-back Abdelhamid Ait Boudlal as a primary candidate to replace the London Eagles' defender during his absence. This move is part of what has been described as a significant overhaul that Wahbi is planning within the squad, aimed at expanding selection options and injecting fresh talent—a strategy that began to materialize during preparations for the upcoming American World Cup.
The report also highlighted that Ajax Amsterdam's gem, Abdullah Wazzan, could be one of the notable surprises in Wahbi's September list. His impressive performances for the Johan Cruyff Arena side at the start of the new season have caught attention, alongside other promising names such as Schalke's Sofiane Faiz, who was included in the World Cup squad but did not receive the chance to shine on the pitch. His opportunities now appear greater than ever. Additionally, youth World Cup star Yasser Zabiri has made a fiery start with Racing Santander, scoring a hat trick in his first appearance in La Liga.
As for a possible replacement for the cinematic goalscorer, sports platform "Win Win" has suggested the name of young striker Yanis Bakraoui as one of the top contenders for Mohamed Wahbi's project, even before El Kaabi's injury. Bakraoui has shown a clear leap in his level, character on the pitch, and individual statistics with his team Estoril, the latest of which includes scoring against Portuguese league giants Benfica in one of the matches from the local league's fourth round, thereby enhancing his impressive tally in the Portuguese league to 33 goals, making him the second-highest Moroccan goalscorer in Iberian league history, behind the legendary Hassan Nader. This achievement significantly boosts his chances of competing for a spot in his national team's upcoming selection.
As reported by alquds.co.uk.
