Overview
- The Moroccan Football Federation confirmed on Thursday that defender Nayef Aguerd and winger Abdessamad Ezzalzouli were withdrawn from the 26-man World Cup squad and that Marwane Saadane and Amine Sbai were added with FIFA approval.
- Aguerd has been out since early March with a groin injury that required surgery and then had a pubic bone fracture discovered in April, ending his chance to play in the tournament.
- Ezzalzouli suffered a right-knee injury in the pre-tournament friendly against Norway in Harrison, New Jersey after teammate Chadi Riad landed on him, and he was taken off at halftime.
- Both replacements were already in the United States as squad cover and Saadane appeared as a second-half substitute in the Norway friendly, but coach Mohamed Ouahbi must integrate them before Morocco’s Group C opener on Saturday.
- Early reports had suggested a moderate MCL sprain for Ezzalzouli and no immediate call-up, but the federation’s June 10 statement superseded those accounts and highlights the tight medical and administrative process required for pre-match injury substitutions.