Moroccan defender Romain Saiss has extended support to midfielder Azzedine Ounahi after being ruled out of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations tournament with injury.
The Atlas Lions missed the services of the Girona star after picking up an injury at training prior to the round of 16 showdown against Tanzania.
Ounahi arrived at Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium on crutches and wearing shin guards, signaling the severity of the injury.
The midfielder will be out of action for five-six weeks due to the setback at the continental showpiece.
However, Romain Saiss, has expressed strong support for his teammate, urging him to bounce back stronger from the setback.
“Ounahi has had some tough moments. It’s complicated when it happens in this type of competition where the matches are so close.”
“We must stand by him; I think this is one of the most difficult moments in his career. Ounahi will definitely recover, and he will learn from this situation to come back stronger.”
“It’s important that we stand by him and help him stay with us until the end. The most important thing is that he stays here and is okay, and then we’ll see when he’ll be ready.”
Considered as one of the high-rated players for Morocco, his absence from the tournament is expected to affect Morocco, who are poised to secure the title.
Despite his absence for the last 16 clash, the Atlas Lions managed to triumph over Tanzania to secure a place in the quarterfinals of the tournament. Real Madrid star Brahim Diaz emerged as the hero for the host nation after firing home the match-winner in the highly-competitive clash on Sunday.
The midfielder’s unfortunate injury radically changes the situation and plunges an entire nation into anxiety, as the AFCON tournament heats up in the North Africa country.
Ounahi has been outstanding for the Atlas Lions of Morocco since making his debut in 2022. He has established himself as a key member of the team, racking up 46 appearances and scoring 9 goals across the period.
