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FBL-ASIAN-C1-AIN-NASSR-TRAININGAFP
Translated by

Kooora exclusive: Sofiane Rahimi a headache for Wahbi

Sofiane Rahimi has handed Morocco coach Mohamed Ouahbi a selection headache ahead of the two qualifiers against Niger in the third and fourth rounds of the race for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations. The Al Ain forward is one of the UAE side's biggest stars.

His problem is a muscular injury to the hamstring of his right thigh, picked up during the President's Cup clash with Shabab Al-Ahli. Rahimi left the pitch in tears in the 27th minute.

  • FBL-ASIAN-C1-AIN-NASSR-TRAININGAFP

    A major crisis chasing Morocco

    A source close to Al Ain told "Kooora" that Rahimi's hamstring injury is no minor knock. He could miss Morocco's camp this November, with fears any rush back would make things worse.

    Read also: A resounding surprise: will Al Hilal snatch Joao Felix?

    The same source confirmed Rahimi will sit out tomorrow's clash against Saudi Arabia's Al Ittihad in the fourth round of the AFC Champions League Elite, scheduled for Monday. The player is now working through an intensive treatment programme.

    His return hinges on how he responds to that treatment. The club won't gamble on him, the source explained, not least with the team facing a tough run of fixtures across every competition.

  • Mohamed Wahbi in a predicament

    Mohamed Wahbi, Morocco's coach, will be the hardest hit by this news. Ismael Saibari, the Bayern Munich star, also picked up an injury in yesterday's clash with Borussia Dortmund, played on Saturday as part of the eighth round of the German Bundesliga.

    Confirmation of Sofiane Rahimi's absence from the Morocco camp, on top of Saibari, would leave Wahbi in a real bind. His most likely solution is to call up Al-Ittihad striker Youssef En-Nesyri to cover for the pair, according to a source within the Atlas Lions' technical staff.

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