Moroccan international Oussama El Azzouzi suffer setback as sidelined until late November

AJ Auxerre will be without Moroccan international Oussama El Azzouzi until November 20 after the midfielder sustained a sprained left ankle, head coach Christophe Pelissier confirmed on Friday.

Speaking at a press conference ahead of his side’s trip to Angers, Pelissier revealed that the 24-year-old remains in recovery and is not expected to feature again before the international break.

“He’s still absent due to ankle pain, the coach explained, before adding: We hope he can return after the next international window.”

El Azzouzi’s absence comes at a difficult moment for the struggling Ligue 1 side, who sit at the bottom of the standings and are battling to regain form after a poor start to the season.

The midfielder, known for his energy and attacking drive, has endured a stop-start campaign so far.

Limited to just four league appearances due to a combination of injuries — including thigh and neck problems — his latest setback adds to Pelissier’s selection concerns.

El Azzouzi joined Auxerre on loan from Italian Serie A side Bologna during the summer transfer window.

The deal runs until the end of the season, with the player still under contract with the Italian club until 2027.

Despite the interruptions to his playing time, the Moroccan remains a highly regarded talent, having won the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations U23 title with his country.

Auxerre’s injury problems do not end there.

Forward Lasso Coulibaly has also been ruled out after suffering an ankle injury during last Saturday’s 1-0 defeat to Marseille.

The Ivorian striker was forced off in the 43rd minute, and subsequent tests confirmed a severe sprain with ligament damage.

“As feared, Coulibaly, who left the field in the 43rd minute against OM last Saturday (0-1), is suffering from a serious ankle sprain with a damaged ligament, Pelissier said. He will not undergo surgery, but will be unavailable for four to six weeks.”

Both absences are significant for Auxerre, who face a crucial away fixture against Angers this Sunday.

With the team still searching for consistency and goals, Pelissier must rely on squad depth and tactical adjustments to navigate this difficult stretch.

The coach remains optimistic that El Azzouzi’s recovery will progress as planned, giving the midfielder a chance to return fit and ready to contribute to Auxerre’s campaign after the international break.

Tags: Oussama El Azzouzi, AJ Auxerre, Christophe Pelissier, Lasso Coulibaly, Ligue 1, Morocco, Bologna FC, Injury News