馃嚥馃嚘MoroccoNorth Africa
Morocco's Nayef Aguerd faces extended absence, potentially missing 2026 World Cup
via Le Matin2 min read
Morocco and Olympique de Marseille may be without key defender Nayef Aguerd until at least next summer, according to European sports sites. Aguerd underwent surgery for pubalgia in March and was expected to return to play in May to help OM in their Ligue 1 top-three race. However, his situation worsened in early April due to a fractured pubis. The combination of groin pain, pubalgia effects, and the fracture is expected to keep the Moroccan international off the field longer than anticipated. Marseille's medical staff considered surgery in March, but this was not enough for a May return. Aguerd had communicated with fans in March, explaining that the surgery was necessary due to persistent pain since October, which had become a constant part of his daily life despite medical protocols. He had hoped to be ready to help Olympique de Marseille in the season's final sprint, pain-free and at 100%. Ultimately, Aguerd will likely miss OM's season finale and could also miss the upcoming FIFA World Cup. This situation opens opportunities for new defenders called up by Ouahbi, including Issa Diop, Chadi Riyad, Redouane Halhal, and Abdelhamid A茂t Boudlal.
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This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by Le Matin.
The governments of the Kingdom of Morocco and the French Republic will hold the 15th session of the Morocco-France High-Level Meeting on Thursday in Rabat. This session reinforces the exceptional and strengthened partnership between Morocco and France, guided by the two heads of state, King Mohammed VI and French President Emmanuel Macron, according to a statement from the Department of the Head of Government.
National coach Mohamed Ouahbi addressed recent comments from Sofyan Amrabat's family regarding the player's lack of playing time, adopting a calm and educational approach during a press conference. Ouahbi dismissed any notion of a major issue, attributing the frustration to a player eager for more time on the field and a family concerned about seeing him on the bench. He drew on his experience working with youth players and their parents, stating he understands the emotions involved. Ouahbi praised Amrabat's character and commitment, noting that despite his disappointment about not playing, Amrabat consistently trained hard. He explained that Amrabat's reduced playing time was due to strong competition from other emerging talents like Bouaddi, El Aynaoui, and El Mourabet. By handling the situation with detachment and avoiding direct confrontation, Ouahbi preserved team unity and left the door open for Amrabat, an essential figure in the locker room, to continue contributing to the National Team.
Must ReadMorocco is increasingly recognized as a credible and ambitious player in the energy transition, according to Samir Rachidi, Director General of the Institute for Research in Solar Energy and New Energies IRESEN. A new 146-page collective work, "Moroccan Energy Diplomacy in the Euro-Mediterranean and Atlantic Space," published by Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung and edited by Steven H枚fner and Rabii El Bacha, highlights how energy has become a foreign policy instrument for Morocco over the past decade. The book, featuring eight Moroccan legal experts and researchers, examines the intersection of law, geopolitics, and engineering. The publication traces this strategic shift back to the 2014 Morocco-European Union summit, where King Mohammed VI advocated for a controlled, secure, and sustainable Euro-Mediterranean energy policy. Morocco is now evolving into an energy integration platform to strengthen regional cooperation. Key infrastructure projects underscore this ambition. Morocco is the first African country physically connected to the European electricity grid, with the initial Morocco-Spain link established in 1997. A second circuit doubled its capacity to 1,400 MW, jointly financed by Spain's Red Electrica and Morocco's ONEE. A third interconnection is under study. The Sila Atlantik project, backed by Berlin and Xlinks, aims to deliver 3.6 GW of renewable electricity to Germany via two 4,800-kilometer subsea cables, supported by 15 GW of solar and wind capacity in Morocco. This p