Nayef Aguerd faces World Cup doubt as Morocco set fitness condition

Morocco defender Nayef Aguerd is facing uncertainty over his participation in the 2026 World Cup, with national team coach Mohamed Ouahbi reportedly insisting on full fitness as a condition for selection.

With less than two months remaining before the tournament, the 30-year-old centre-back is struggling to recover from a persistent injury that has already ruled him out of action in recent weeks.

His situation has raised concerns about whether he will be able to return in time to secure a place in Morocco’s squad.

Aguerd, currently sidelined with a groin problem, is not expected to feature again this season for his club, Marseille.

The lack of competitive match fitness could prove decisive, particularly as the national team coaching staff prioritise players who are fully fit ahead of a major international competition.

“The Moroccan coach is prioritizing players who are 100% fit for this major event,” a source close to the matter revealed to Le360.

“Without encouraging playing time with the Marseille club before the end of the season, Nayef Aguerd’s participation in the World Cup could be seriously compromised,” the same source added.

The defender’s injury has proven more complex than initially anticipated. After undergoing surgery in March to address ongoing pubalgia issues, Aguerd has entered a rehabilitation phase.

However, his recovery has not progressed as expected, adding further uncertainty to his situation.

“The defender has been engaged in a rehabilitation process for some time, but his health condition has not seen any significant improvement so far,” the source said.

Reports suggest that his condition involves multiple complications, including pubic inflammation, a bone fissure and lingering fragility.

While one aspect of the injury has reportedly improved, another remains unresolved, with concerns that the bone has not fully healed.

As a result, Aguerd now finds himself in a race against time to regain fitness. He has already missed the March international break, including Morocco’s matches against Ecuador and Paraguay, which marked Ouahbi’s early games in charge.

Despite the uncertainty, a final decision has yet to be made regarding his availability for the tournament. “For the moment, his withdrawal is not yet confirmed. The situation will be monitored daily,” the source added.