Morocco head coach Walid Regragui has expressed concern over the injury sustained by Hamza Igamane during the Atlas Lions’ defeat to Senegal in the Africa Cup of Nations final on Sunday.
Speaking after the match, Regragui revealed that the forward suffered the injury following a collision, admitting fears that it could be a serious ligament issue that disrupted Morocco’s plans in the closing stages of the contest.
“I brought on Hamza Igamane when he was ready, and as I told you, I think he has a cruciate ligament injury as a result of a collision. This is something you can’t predict. It’s not a muscle injury, and it has nothing to do with finishing the match with ten players. It’s fate and things that happen in football,” Regragui noted.
The Moroccan coach explained that the injury was not linked to tactical decisions or workload, but rather an unfortunate incident that can occur in high-intensity matches, especially at the latter stages of a major tournament.
“One of our best players has suffered a ligament injury. We hope it’s not a cruciate ligament injury specifically, and that he can return to play quickly. Ultimately, these are the risks; when you’re a coach, you have to make decisions,” the coach said.
Hamza Igamane’s injury added to Morocco’s frustration on a night that ended in disappointment, as Senegal went on to claim the AFCON title after a tense and dramatic final.
