Moroccan national team defender Nayef Aguerd will not join his teammates on their trip to South Africa for the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations 2027 qualifying match against Lesotho. According to reports from Moroccan sports outlet Almountakhab, Aguerd's absence is due to his ongoing recovery program following recent surgery. The 29-year-old will continue his individual training at the Mohammed VI Football Complex in Salé under the supervision of the national team staff.
The decision to keep Aguerd in Morocco was made by head coach Mohamed Ouahbi and his technical staff, who are taking a gradual approach to the defender's physical recovery. This cautious approach aims to ensure Aguerd is fully fit before returning to competitive action, rather than rushing him back. Aguerd's recovery program is being carefully managed as part of the competitive protocol for his case.
Aguerd's absence from the South Africa trip means he will miss Morocco's second AFCON 2027 qualifying fixture against Lesotho. The rest of the squad, however, will continue preparations in South Africa for the match. Morocco opened their qualifying campaign with a 2-0 victory over Gabon in Rabat, with goals from Noussair Mazraoui and Soufiane Rahimi.
The Atlas Lions will face Lesotho at the Free State Toyota Stadium in Bloemfontein on Tuesday. The match will also see the return of captain Achraf Hakimi and Bayern Munich midfielder Ismael Saibari, who were unavailable for the opening match due to suspension. Morocco will look to build on their opening result and secure another win in the qualifying campaign.
Aguerd's recovery program is expected to prepare him for Morocco's upcoming friendly against Ghana. The friendly match is part of the team's next preparation schedule. The technical staff will continue to monitor Aguerd's progress as he works toward a return to competitive action and the national team's upcoming commitments.
The Mohammed VI Football Complex in Salé will remain Aguerd's base for his individual training program. The complex provides state-of-the-art facilities for the national team's players to train and recover. Aguerd's supervision by the national team staff ensures he receives the best possible care during his recovery.
Morocco's national team is looking to continue their strong performance in the AFCON 2027 qualifying campaign. With a win against Lesotho, the team can build momentum for their future matches. Key players like Achraf Hakimi and Ismael Saibari will be crucial in the team's efforts to secure another win.
Key points
- Morocco's Nayef Aguerd will miss the national team's trip to South Africa due to his ongoing recovery from surgery.
- Aguerd will continue his individual training program at the Mohammed VI Football Complex in Salé.
- The defender is expected to be ready for Morocco's upcoming friendly against Ghana.
