Ismael Saibari exits early as Morocco lose in World Cup knockout

Bayern Munich’s 25‑year‑old forward Ismael Saibari was forced to leave the World Cup round‑of‑16 match between Morocco and co‑host Canada after just 22 minutes, clutching his right thigh following a challenge with Canada’s Moïse Bombito. He was replaced by Soufiane Rahimi.

Saibari, who joined Bayern earlier this week on a contract running until 2031 for a reported fee of around €50 million, had been Morocco’s joint top scorer at the tournament with three goals. The severity of his injury was initially unclear, raising concerns for both the Moroccan national side’s chances of progressing and Bayern’s new signing.

The injury occurred in the first knockout match for the North African team, which now faces an uphill battle to advance without their key offensive player.