Chadi Riad’s hopes of representing Morocco at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations have been dealt a major setback, with his club manager Oliver Glasner confirming the defender will remain sidelined for at least two more months.
The 22-year-old centre-back has endured a difficult spell with injuries over the past year. After initially suffering a knee injury between September and December, he then sustained a cruciate ligament tear in January that prematurely ended his season.
While there had been optimism that he was edging closer to a return, his current condition suggests he will miss much of the opening half of the 2025–26 campaign.
Speaking at a press conference on Friday, Glasner made clear that Riad’s recovery is still far from complete. “No players are returning from injury, so not Eddie Nketiah, not Matheus França because he can’t train with the team at the moment.
Not Caleb Kporha. Of course, Cheick Doucouré and Chadi Riad are out for the next two months,” the manager said.
Those comments dampened hopes of a swift comeback for the defender, who had been spotted at training but reportedly appeared short of full fitness.
The news is particularly troubling for Morocco, who will host the Africa Cup of Nations between 21 December and 18 January.
With the tournament now little more than four months away, Riad’s participation looks increasingly doubtful.
The Palma de Mallorca-born player has already experienced a stop-start international career. After making three appearances for Morocco, his last outing came in June 2024 when the Atlas Lions defeated Congo 6-0.
Since then, he has not been called up, as injuries have continued to interrupt his progress.
Riad’s struggles extend beyond the national team. Last season, he managed just four appearances and 253 minutes of playing time, despite arriving as a transfer from Barcelona.
His lack of consistent form and prolonged spells on the sidelines have raised questions among observers over whether he can regain the level required to compete at the highest stage.
Once considered a promising talent after spells with Barcelona and Real Betis, the defender’s trajectory has been hampered by repeated setbacks.
With Morocco preparing to host the continent’s most prestigious football competition, the absence of a young player regarded as part of the country’s defensive future would be a significant blow.
The timing could not be worse for the Atlas Lions, who will rely on stability and depth to mount a challenge for the title on home soil.
While the Moroccan Football Federation has yet to make any official comment on Riad’s availability, his current situation means coach Walid Regragui may have to look elsewhere when finalising his squad.
For Riad himself, the coming months will be decisive. If he is unable to recover in time for the tournament, he faces the risk of losing his place within the national setup altogether.
With competition for defensive roles intensifying, the challenge will be not only to regain fitness but also to rediscover the sharpness and consistency that once made him one of Morocco’s brightest young prospects.
As it stands, the chances of seeing Chadi Riad at the AFCON appear slim, leaving both the player and Morocco bracing for disappointment ahead of the tournament they had hoped would mark a new chapter in their footballing history.
