Sufian Rahimi’s hamstring injury has become a major concern for Morocco manager Mohamed Ouahbi ahead of the team’s two meetings with Niger in the third and fourth rounds of qualifying for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations.
The Al Ain forward injured the back of his right thigh during his side’s President’s Cup match against Shabab Al Ahli. He was forced to leave the field in tears in the 27th minute.
A source close to Al Ain told Koora that Rahimi’s injury was not straightforward and that the player could miss Morocco’s November camp because of concerns that an early return might aggravate the problem.
Rahimi has also been ruled out of Al Ain’s match against Al-Ittihad Saudi, scheduled for Monday in the fourth round of the AFC Champions League Elite. The source said the forward is currently following an intensive treatment programme.
His return, the source added, will depend on how he responds to treatment. Al Ain are not prepared to take risks with the player, particularly with the club facing demanding fixtures across all competitions.
The latest development is an especially serious setback for Ouahbi because Morocco may also be without Ismail Saibari. The Bayern Munich player sustained an injury during Saturday’s match against Borussia Dortmund in the eighth round of the German league.
Should Rahimi and Saibari both be absent from the Morocco camp, Ouahbi will face a significant problem in assembling his squad. A source within the Morocco coaching staff previously indicated that the manager would be highly likely to call up Yusuf En-Nesyri, the Al-Ittihad striker, to replace the pair.
