Ilias Akhomach’s season ended early due to serious injury
Ilias Akhomach’s 2023-24 season has been abruptly cut short following a serious knee injury sustained during Villarreal’s 3-0 victory over Alavés on Saturday. The 20-year-old winger, who had recently been a rising star for both his club and the Moroccan national team, was stretchered off the field in the 42nd minute, just four minutes after scoring the opening goal of the match.
The severity of Akhomach’s injury was confirmed by Villarreal in an official statement released on Sunday, revealing that the young forward had suffered a complete rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and a sprain of the internal lateral ligament in his right knee.
“The medical tests that Ilias Akhomach has undergone confirm that the Villarreal forward suffers a complete rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament and a sprain of the internal lateral ligament of his right knee.
Much strength, Ili, the whole grogueta family is with you!” the club said in its message of support.
Typically, recovery from an ACL rupture requires a minimum of six months, meaning that Akhomach is unlikely to return to action this season unless there is an unusually rapid recovery.
This is a devastating setback for the player, who had been in impressive form since joining Villarreal from FC Barcelona, having also earned a bronze medal with the Moroccan team at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games earlier this year.
The injury casts doubt on Akhomach’s future role at both the club and international levels. At Villarreal, his place in the starting lineup may now be under threat during his prolonged absence.
Similarly, his regular call-ups to the Moroccan national team under coach Walid Regragui will likely be affected.
Akhomach had seen an increase in his playing time for the Atlas Lions, but with the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco set for December 2025 to January 2026, the winger faces a race against time to regain fitness and secure his place in the squad.
As of now, the Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) has yet to announce whether Akhomach’s injury will affect his inclusion in the national team for their upcoming matches against Gabon on November 15 and Lesotho on November 18.
With the stakes high for both his club and country, Akhomach will now focus on his rehabilitation, hoping to return to peak form ahead of the continent’s premier football tournament.
