Morocco forced into two injury changes ahead of World Cup opener with Brazil

[p]Saudi-based defender [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/saadane-marwane/EkQKJ570/"]Marwane Saadane[/a] and striker [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/sbai-mohamed-amine/0ERxiKEk/"]‌Amine Sbai[/a] have been added as replacements, the Moroccan federation and FIFA ‌confirmed.[/p][p][b][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/aguerd-naif/zsQh7xdD/"]Aguerd[/a], 30, has not played since the start ‌of March because of a groin injury, which required surgery. ‌His recovery stalled in April when it was discovered ‌that he had a fracture of his pubic bone.[/b][/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/morocco/IDKYO3R8/"]Morocco[/a] coach Mohamed Ouahabi kept up hope Aguerd would recover in time, but ‌decided on Thursday that he would not ⁠be ready for this ‌month’s tournament in Canada, Mexico and the United States.[/p][p][b]The 24-year-old [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/ez-abde/YRiVcQ3T/"]Ezzalzouli[/a] ​was hurt in a freak incident in the weekend’s friendly against [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/norway/8rP6JO0H/"]Norway[/a] in Harrison, New Jersey.[/b][/p][p]As ​Morocco defended a corner kick, teammate [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/riad-chadi/dGshLigA/"]Chadi Riad[/a] landed awkwardly on Ezzalzouli's right knee. Ezzalzouli attempted to continue ⁠playing, but soon had ​to be taken off.[/p][embed guid="1748e209-61bc-40fb-8589-53c1c53ce4c0" url="https://x.com/Ligue1_ENG/status/2064991705129013484" social-type="twitter" /][p]Both Aguerd and Ezzalzouli were in the Morocco squad that reached the semi-final of the last World Cup in Qatar, and also the final of the ‌Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco in January.[/p][p]Aguerd, however, was also injured at the last World Cup in the last-16 tie against [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/spain/bLyo6mco/"]Spain[/a] and missed their three subsequent games at the tournament.[/p][p][b]Saadane, 34, debuted for Morocco in 2015 but has been an infrequent squad member since, while 25-year-old Sbai, who plays primarily on the left wing, won a first cap earlier this month in ‌a World Cup warm-up friendly against [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/burundi/IeBFvsBE/"]Burundi[/a].[/b][/p][p]Both Saadane and ​Sbai were taken to the US as cover and ‌have been training with the squad. Saadane featured in Sunday’s 1-1 draw with Norway as a second half replacement while Sbai was listed among the substitutes.[/p][p]Morocco [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/brazil-I9l9aqLq/morocco-IDKYO3R8/?mid=b5JayTEd"]open their Group C campaign at the World Cup[/a] ⁠against [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/brazil/I9l9aqLq/"]Brazil[/a] at the ⁠New York/New Jersey Stadium ‌on Saturday.[/p][infobox id="4ccc1b10-d68f-4c97-bcf4-5e613c17c2e3" /]