Morocco have been dealt a major injury concern ahead of their opening match at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with key players Abdessamad Ezzalzouli and Noussair Mazraoui facing races against time to be fit for Sunday’s Group D showdown against Brazil.
The duo sustained injuries during Morocco’s final warm-up fixture, a 1-1 draw against Norway, leaving the Atlas Lions anxious as the tournament approaches.
Ezzalzouli failed to emerge for the second half after suffering a leg injury, while Mazraoui’s outing ended after just 29 minutes due to a shoulder problem.
Morocco had taken an early lead in the contest before Norway struck 15 minutes from time to salvage a draw.
Head coach Mohamed Ouahbi admitted that the injuries overshadowed what was otherwise a useful test against strong opposition.
“We showed some good things against a very strong opponent, even if we didn’t win,” Ouahbi said. “That’s exactly why you play teams like this. With 10 changes made, it’s tough on the players, but we needed to manage minutes.”
The coach added that the extent of both injuries remains unclear.
“Two players went off injured. We’re waiting to see how serious it is. That’s my biggest concern right now,” he said.
Morocco will begin their World Cup campaign against five-time champions Brazil at MetLife Stadium as they seek to build on their historic run to the semi-finals at the previous World Cup.
