Morocco’s U20 side began their Africa Cup of Nations campaign with a 3-2 win over Kenya in Egypt, but the triumph was overshadowed by injuries to two vital players, Yassir Zabiri and Abdelhamid Aït Boudlal.
Head coach Mohamed Ouahbi expressed both satisfaction and concern during the post-match press conference, praising his team’s fighting spirit while lamenting the physical toll of the encounter.
Zabiri, who netted a brace in the opening match, and Aït Boudlal, a central figure in Morocco’s defensive setup, both sustained injuries that could see them sidelined for the remainder of the group stage.
“The only black spot of the day was the injuries to Zabiri and Aït Boudlal,” Ouahbi stated. “We’ll fix everything else. We knew Kenya would be dangerous on the counterattack.
We lacked confidence when playing out from the back and didn’t manage the half-spaces as well as we should have.”
Zabiri, currently on the books at Portuguese club Famalicão, was instrumental in Morocco’s opening victory, scoring twice to help the team secure all three points.
Aït Boudlal, who plays for Amiens in France, has been a cornerstone of the Moroccan defence throughout the team’s preparations and was expected to be a key figure in Egypt.
Both players are now doubts for Morocco’s next group stage match against Nigeria on Sunday, a crucial fixture that could determine the team’s progress in the tournament.
Nigeria come into the match with momentum after a 2-1 win over Tunisia and are regarded as one of the tournament’s most formidable sides.
The timing of the injuries could not be worse for the Atlas Cubs, who must also prepare to face Tunisia in their final group match on May 7.
With only the top two teams in each group advancing to the semi-finals, Morocco cannot afford a slip-up. Qualification for the semi-finals also guarantees a place in the 2025 U20 World Cup in Chile, adding further weight to the stakes.
Coach Ouahbi, while visibly frustrated by the injury setbacks, remained composed and optimistic about his team’s resilience. “We will find solutions.
We’ve come here with a squad capable of adapting. Of course, losing two leaders is not ideal, but we must move forward with the same determination.”
The Moroccan Football Federation is yet to release a detailed medical update on the extent of the injuries, though early indications suggest both players could miss the remaining group matches.
Staff will continue to assess their conditions ahead of the decisive matches.
Despite the blow, Morocco’s spirited performance against Kenya has given fans hope. The young team showed attacking flair and tactical discipline, attributes they will need in abundance if they are to navigate their next two matches without two of their brightest talents.
As the U20 Africa Cup of Nations progresses, all eyes will be on how Morocco responds to this early adversity.
The team’s ambitions of reaching the final four and securing a ticket to the World Cup now rest on their ability to adapt swiftly and maintain their winning form in the face of mounting challenges.
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