Abde's Absence from World Cup 2026
In a disappointing turn of events, the Moroccan national football team has officially excluded Real Betis winger Abde from their final squad for the 2026 World Cup. This decision comes after the player sustained a moderate grade ligament injury to his right knee during the recent friendly match against Norway. Medical tests confirmed the extent of the injury, indicating that he would require several weeks of recovery. Faced with this situation, the Moroccan coaching staff opted not to keep Abde on the roster in hopes of his recovery, but instead called up Angers player Amine Sbai as his replacement in the 26-man squad. Additionally, central defender Nayef Aguerd has also been left out, with Saadne taking his place.
Morocco was required to submit their final squad list just hours before their opening match against Brazil this Sunday, and FIFA has released these changes impacting the Betis player. Consequently, Abde, who is currently using crutches to assist with mobility, will not be able to participate in the World Cup. This is particularly unfortunate as he had been enjoying an exceptional season and was considered one of Morocco's key players, showcasing the best form of his career right before the tournament.
Impact on the Moroccan National Team
Despite the setback for Abde, six players from Real Betis will still represent their countries in the World Cup. This includes notable names such as Lo Celso (Argentina), Amrabat (Morocco), Cucho Hernández (Colombia), Ricardo (Switzerland), Bakambu (DR Congo), and Fidalgo (Mexico), the latter set to make his debut in the inaugural match tonight against one of the host nations.
At this point, it remains uncertain whether Abde will return to Spain to commence his recovery and enjoy a break or if he will stay in the United States to support his teammates during the World Cup, despite the emotional blow of being excluded from the event.
As reported by abc.es.
