Walid Regragui, head coach of Morocco during the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations AFCON Morocco Training at Mohammed VI Football Complex in Rabat, Morocco on 13 January 2026 ©Samuel Shivambu/BackpagePix
Wednesday Jan 28, 2026. 13:00
The Moroccan national football team has been dealt another blow ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, as Sofyan Amrabat has undergone surgery.
The 29-year-old underwent an ankle arthroscopy in the Netherlands, the country of his birth, and expected to be sidelined for up to six weeks, according to Afrikfoot.
The player posted a photo of himself from the hospital on Instagram, stating: “The beginning of a stronger chapter!”
Amrabat started the first two of Morocco’s group games at the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) and came off the bench in the 68th minute of the Atlas Lions’ quarterfinal victory over Cameroon. He did not feature in either their semi-final or the final.
For Amrabat, the focus will be on returning to full fitness and racking-up game time before the end of the season in order to be ready for the World Cup.
The defensive midfielder is the second member of Morocco’s AFCON squad to undergo surgery, with back-up goalkeeper Munir El Kajoui having had shoulder surgery after dislocating it before the tournament’s final.
Atlas Lions head coach Walid Regragui will be hoping for both players to be back to full health as he shifts his focus to the upcoming global showpiece.
By Nic Gleeson