Morocco midfielder Sofyan Amrabat has undergone ankle surgery and is set to miss several weeks of action, dealing a blow to both club and country following the Africa Cup of Nations.
The 28-year-old had been managing pain during the tournament and was still called up despite the issue, but medical intervention was deemed necessary once the competition concluded.
The procedure was carried out shortly after Morocco’s AFCON campaign ended on home soil.
In a statement, his club confirmed the nature of the operation and the immediate next steps in his recovery.
“The international player underwent surgery performed by Dr. Gino Kerkhoffs under the supervision of the club’s medical staff. He had joint debridement of his right ankle. Amrabat will begin his post-operative recovery in Amsterdam, then continue his rehabilitation in Seville.”
The surgery, described as an ankle arthroscopy, is expected to keep Amrabat sidelined for between four and six weeks, according to several reliable sources.
While no precise return date has been set, the midfielder now faces a spell away from competitive football at a key stage of the season.
Amrabat becomes the second Moroccan international to undergo surgery in the aftermath of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.
He follows goalkeeper Munir El Kajoui, who also required an operation after sustaining an injury during the tournament.
Munir, who was acting as understudy to Yassine Bounou, underwent shoulder surgery after suffering a dislocation just two days before the AFCON final against Senegal.
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That match, played on January 18, ended in a 1-0 defeat after extra time for Morocco.
The decision to operate was taken as a precautionary measure to avoid any risk of relapse, with his return anticipated in late April or early May.
For Amrabat, the focus now turns to recovery and rehabilitation.
The midfielder has been a central figure for Morocco in recent years and was again relied upon heavily during the AFCON, even while carrying the ankle problem.
His absence for the coming weeks will be closely monitored as both club and national team staff assess his progress.
With the 2026 World Cup also looming later in the calendar, managing his fitness and workload will be a priority.
For now, however, Amrabat’s immediate concern is a successful recovery as he works his way back to full fitness following surgery.
