Mazraoui injury raises concern in Morocco as Wahbi reassures fans

Nussair Mazraoui, the defender for the Moroccan national team and Manchester United, left the pitch injured during the match against Lesotho, causing a wave of concern within the 'Atlas Lions' camp, despite the team securing their second consecutive victory in the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.

Morocco secured a 2-0 victory against Lesotho on Tuesday in the second round of Group A matches, held in South Africa. However, they lost the services of Mazraoui, who left the pitch in the 69th minute, with captain Achraf Hakimi coming on as his replacement in his first appearance for the national team during the qualifiers after missing the match against Gabon.

Mazraoui's injury has raised questions about the duration of his potential absence and his ability to participate in the upcoming friendly match against Mali, scheduled to take place on Sunday, October 4, at the Grand Stadium in Tangier.

Moroccan coach Mohamed Wahbi discussed the physical condition of his players after the match, addressing Mazraoui's injury but downplaying concerns about it. He emphasized that the most important thing for him was achieving victory and avoiding significant injuries to the players.

Wahbi said: "We won the match and secured another 3 points on the road to ensuring qualification for the finals, but it was clear that our goal was to play seriously to win without any of our players getting injured, as the fear of injuries was a concern."

Morocco's coach added: "Winning without any injuries is very important for me," comments that media outlets interpreted as a sign of no major concerns regarding Mazraoui's condition, as they await to monitor his situation in the coming days.

The status of Manchester United defender regarding participation against Mali will depend on the progress of his physical condition, in the match that was officially announced after the cancellation of the encounter with Ghana, which the Moroccan national team was scheduled to play at the same time.

Morocco lead Group A in the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers with 6 points after consecutive victories over Gabon and Lesotho, both by a score of 2-0.