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Morocco loses Ezzalzouli, Aguerd to injury

From Ghanaian Times · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

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  • Morocco has replaced two injured players, Abde Ezzalzouli and Nayef Aguerd, in its World Cup squad ahead of its opening game against Brazil.
  • Ezzalzouli, a former Barcelona player, was a potential breakout star, while Aguerd was a key defender in Morocco's 2022 World Cup semifinal run.
  • Amine Sbaï and Marwane Saadane have been called up as replacements for the injured duo.

Morocco's World Cup aspirations have been dealt a blow with the withdrawal of key players Abde Ezzalzouli and Nayef Aguerd due to injury. FIFA confirmed the withdrawals on Wednesday, just ahead of Morocco's opening match against Brazil.

Ezzalzouli, who previously played for Barcelona, was considered a potential breakout star for the tournament. His absence, due to a knee injury sustained in a warmup game, is a significant loss for the Moroccan attack. Aguerd, a crucial defender who was a cornerstone of Morocco's historic run to the semifinals in the 2022 World Cup, also faces an extended period on the sidelines.

Coach Mohamed Ouahbi has called up Amine Sbaï of French club Angers and Marwane Saadane, who plays in Saudi Arabia for Al Fateh, to fill the voids. Morocco is set to open its campaign against Brazil on Saturday at MetLife Stadium. The team will then face Scotland on June 19 and Haiti on June 24.

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Originally published by Ghanaian Times. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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