With just six days until their opening match against Brazil, the Moroccan national team faced a particularly concerning evening during their last preparation match on Sunday against Norway, which ended in a 1-1 draw. Beyond the result, the physical condition of two key players drew attention: Noussair Mazraoui and Ez Abde, both forced to leave the pitch due to injury in the first half.
The situation with Noussair Mazraoui raises initial worries within the coaching staff. The full-back, who plays for Manchester United, had to leave the game before the half-hour mark after feeling pain in his shoulder following a challenge. According to several media sources, including RadioMars, initial medical reports suggest a shoulder subluxation. This type of injury typically requires a minimum recovery period of about ten days, putting his participation in Morocco’s first match on June 14 in serious doubt.
Despite this uncertainty, coach Mohamed Ouahbi tried to downplay the situation in a press conference. He mentioned that, in theory, the player could be available for the match against Brazil, showing some confidence in the evolution of his physical condition. However, this optimism needs to be tempered as they await further tests to confirm the exact nature of the injury and clarify recovery timelines. The medical staff is still in an evaluation phase, aware of the player’s strategic importance in the defensive setup.
Ez Abde’s situation, on the other hand, appears even more concerning. The winger from Real Betis also left the field in the first half, visibly injured at the knee. According to information reported by Foot Mercato, initial diagnoses suggest an internal ligament sprain in the knee. Such an injury typically means an estimated absence of three to four weeks, significantly reducing his chances of participating in the group stage of the competition, or even a larger part of the tournament depending on how his rehabilitation progresses.
This double injury alert comes at a particularly sensitive moment in Morocco’s preparation. The coach, already focused on maintaining balance in his squad, now has to deal with the uncertainty surrounding two players who could play crucial roles in the team’s gameplay. The simultaneous exit of both offensive and defensive players marked a turning point in the match against Norway, despite the overall performance being deemed satisfactory by the coaching staff.
In this context, the coming days will be crucial. In-depth medical examinations will help establish a definitive diagnosis and guide sporting decisions. With hopes for a quick recovery for one and fears of a prolonged absence for the other, the Moroccan national team now approaches its final preparation in an atmosphere of uncertainty, just days away from a major encounter against one of the tournament favorites.
