Morocco vs France Atlas Lions Missing Key Forward Saibari in Quarter-Final

Morocco enters their high-stakes FIFA World Cup 2026 quarter-final against France this Thursday without star forward Ismael Saibari. Head coach Mohamed Ouahbi confirmed that Saibari failed to recover from a hamstring injury sustained during the Round of 16 victory over Canada.

The loss of the PSV Eindhoven attacker is a significant blow for the Atlas Lions. Saibari was a standout performer, scoring in every group-stage match and netting the winning penalty in the shootout against the Netherlands. Despite the injury, Ouahbi expressed hope that this would not mark the end of the tournament for the forward.

Faced with a rematch of the 2022 World Cup semi-final, Morocco remains committed to its tactical roots. Coach Ouahbi stated that there will be "no surprises" in their approach, emphasizing a philosophy of patient possession and attacking flexibility through the wings and the center.

"We have proven that we can hurt any team," Ouahbi told reporters, dismissing comparisons to their 2-0 loss to France in 2022 by noting that both squads have significantly evolved. As the two teams prepare to clash in Massachusetts, Morocco looks to maintain its historic run even without one of its most clinical finishers.