Morocco national football team coach Mohamed Wahbi has admitted uncertainty remains over the fitness of several key players ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with defender Nayef Aguerd emerging as the biggest concern within the squad.
The issue resurfaced following Morocco’s friendly victory over Madagascar national football team, when Wahbi addressed the medical status of a number of senior players during his post-match press conference.
Aguerd’s condition has become a central topic among supporters and analysts alike, with fears growing that Morocco could enter the tournament without one of the key pillars of their defence fully fit.
Wahbi confirmed that the defender remains on an individual rehabilitation and treatment programme under close medical supervision. However, the coach avoided offering guarantees over the player’s availability, insisting that any decision regarding his participation would depend entirely on physical readiness assessments in the days leading up to the tournament.
The cautious tone adopted by the Moroccan coach reflected the seriousness of the situation, particularly given Aguerd’s importance both tactically and psychologically within the squad.
Fear of repeating past mistakes
Concerns surrounding Aguerd’s condition have revived memories of Morocco’s difficulties at the last Africa Cup of Nations, when defender Romain Saïss played while not fully recovered before suffering a recurrence of his injury during the opening match.
That experience has increased pressure on the technical and medical staff to avoid taking unnecessary risks ahead of the World Cup.
Many supporters fear that rushing Aguerd back too early could lead to another defensive setback during the tournament, either through an early forced substitution or a drop in defensive stability at a critical moment.
The situation has placed Wahbi in a difficult strategic position. On one side is the temptation to rely on Aguerd’s leadership, experience and defensive influence. On the other is the need to prioritise long-term physical readiness over short-term emotional decisions.
Marouane Saâdane considered as alternative
As uncertainty continues, Morocco’s coaching staff are reportedly considering alternative defensive options, including reserve-list defender Marouane Saâdane.
Saâdane could potentially be called upon if the technical staff conclude that Aguerd is unable to reach the required fitness level before the competition begins.
The decision is expected to be made before Morocco depart for the World Cup, with Wahbi fully aware that any miscalculation could have major consequences in a tournament environment where defensive mistakes are rarely forgiven.
Other fitness concerns inside Morocco camp
Aguerd is not the only player currently being monitored by Morocco’s medical staff.
Wahbi also revealed that midfielder Neil El Aynaoui missed recent training sessions because of an emergency health issue, creating another fitness concern within the squad ahead of the journey to North America.
Meanwhile, goalkeeper Yassine Bounou has also been placed under precautionary protection measures after reporting minor shoulder pain.
According to Wahbi, doctors chose to keep Bounou away from full group training to prevent any aggravation of the problem and to ensure he reaches the World Cup in peak condition.
The decision underlined the increasingly cautious approach being adopted by Morocco’s medical department as the tournament approaches.
Balancing ambition with medical caution
The uncertainty surrounding several key players has created a difficult balancing act for Morocco ahead of one of the biggest tournaments in the nation’s football history.
Wahbi must now weigh competitive ambition against medical necessity while trying to preserve squad stability before the opening match.
For Morocco, the coming days could prove decisive not only for Aguerd’s future role in the tournament, but also for the overall defensive structure of a team hoping to compete strongly on the global stage.
