Walid Rekragui, the coach of the Moroccan national football team, is awaiting the results of a medical diagnosis regarding the injury of team captain Romain Saïss. He expressed hope that the injury is not serious and that the player can return quickly to participate in the Africa Cup of Nations taking place in Morocco.
During the press conference following Morocco’s 2-0 victory over Comoros in the opening match of the 35th edition of the Africa Cup of Nations, Rekragui noted that Saïss experienced pain in his knee. He added:
“We do not yet know if the injury is muscular or something else; we are waiting for the final diagnosis, and we hope it is not serious so that we can get him back for the tournament.”
The defender for Qatari club Al Sadd, who recently returned to the national team after a long absence, sustained the injury in the 15th minute of the match while attempting to clear a long ball under pressure from a Comoros striker. Although he initially returned to the field, he was unable to finish the game and was substituted by his teammate Jawad El Yamiq in the 19th minute.
Rekragui considered Saïss’s injury a significant blow to the team, particularly given that the squad is also grappling with the injury to Achraf Hakimi. However, he emphasized that there are alternatives in defense, such as Jawad El Yamiq and Adam Masina, and added:
“Romain is an experienced player, and we need his expertise greatly in this tournament. Despite having alternatives, he remains a key element of the group.”
The Atlas Lions coach underscored the challenges posed by the Africa Cup of Nations, stressing the importance of managing injuries and addressing them appropriately throughout the tournament.
Regarding the match’s progress, Rekragui acknowledged the difficulty of the opening game, noting that tension was palpable, especially after a two-year wait to compete on home soil. He stated:
“Missing a penalty and Saïss’s injury added to our troubles in the first half, but through our quality, fighting spirit, and patience, we managed to secure the win.”
He explained that the team controlled possession without effectiveness in the first half but improved in the second half, capitalizing on the opponent’s decline to score two goals, one of which he described as a marvelous strike from Ayoub El Kaabi, with a chance to add a third goal.
Rekragui concluded his statements by affirming that the goal was not to deliver a strong blow from the outset but to approach the tournament one match at a time, highlighting that the upcoming clash against Mali will be entirely different due to their players’ strength, making it a true test for the Moroccan team.
