Morocco reach the quarters with nearly half the squad on a yellow-card tightrope — and Saibari limped off injured
Hakimi, Ounahi, El Khannouss and Halhal were all booked against Canada. Saibari went off injured. Morocco face France in the quarter-finals.
A 3–0 win should be pure celebration. For Morocco, the rout of Canada in the round of 16 came at a steep price: nearly half the starting lineup arrives on a yellow-card warning for the quarter-final — and forward Ismael Saibari left the pitch holding his right hamstring as early as the first half.
Heading into the match, only defender Diop was carrying a booking, picked up against the Netherlands. But the physical, intense midfield battle against Canada changed everything: Hakimi, Halhal, Ounahi and El Khannouss were all cautioned before the break, according to ge.
The rule is clear: bookings are wiped after the group stage and again after the quarter-finals. Anyone who picks up another yellow before then will miss a potential semi-final. With five players on a warning, coach Mohamed Ouahbi will have to manage the risk carefully — and hope nobody pushes their luck.
The situation grows even more delicate with Saibari's fitness. The No. 11, freshly signed by Bayern Munich and a key reference point in Morocco's attack, walked off clutching his thigh. With no official confirmation on the severity, the uncertainty hangs in the air.
The quarter-final opponent is France, next Thursday in Boston. Golmetria's model gives the French a 13.8% chance of lifting the trophy — clear favourites in this tie. For Morocco, reaching this stage is already history. But going into a quarter-final with half the squad on a disciplinary knife-edge, and their most dangerous attacker a doubt, is as much a test of management as it is of football.
Will Saibari play? Will the booked players hold back? Thursday in Boston will have the answers.