“Present in Spirit and Heart”: Azzedine Ounahi Reacts After AFCON 2025 Injury Exit

Azzedine Ounahi. Photo Credit : FRMF

The Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025 continues, but the Moroccan national team will have to move forward without one of its key midfield leaders. Azzedine Ounahi, sidelined by a calf injury, has officially been ruled out for the remainder of the tournament. A major setback for the Atlas Lions, which the 25-year-old midfielder has chosen to face with resilience, clarity, and a strong collective mindset.

Ounahi sustained the injury during the final training session ahead of Morocco’s match against Tanzania. Medical examinations confirmed a muscle tear in the calf, forcing an estimated recovery period of five to six weeks and bringing his AFCON 2025 campaign to a premature end.

Walid Regragui reacts to Ounahi’s injury

Following Morocco’s 1–0 victory over Tanzania, head coach Walid Regragui expressed visible emotion during the post-match press conference. “Azzedine is suffering from a calf tear. The scar reopened, which means he will not be able to continue the AFCON,” the national team coach confirmed.

“It’s a real shock for us. We’ve lost one of our technical leaders. His injury affected the entire group. He is extremely important to this team. He cried like a child, and that inevitably had an emotional impact on the players,” Regragui added.

A powerful message to Moroccan supporters

Despite the disappointment, Azzedine Ounahi addressed Moroccan fans directly through an emotional message shared on his Instagram account. Grateful for the overwhelming support, the midfielder highlighted the moral strength he drew from the messages he received.

“First of all, I would like to sincerely thank our dear supporters for the incredible number of messages of support, solidarity, and affection I received after my injury. Your words deeply touched my heart and gave me indescribable moral strength,” Ounahi wrote.

Clarifying the circumstances of the injury

The Girona FC midfielder also took the opportunity to clear up any misunderstanding surrounding his injury. “I want to clarify, with full transparency, that this injury occurred without any contact. It is unfortunately part of football, and none of my teammates are involved. It was important for me to make this clear,” he explained.

Still part of the group, despite the absence

Although his journey on the pitch has ended, Ounahi remains fully committed to the national team. “Even if I won’t be physically present on the field, I will stay with my teammates in spirit and heart,” he insisted, reaffirming his support for the group as Morocco continues its AFCON campaign.

The Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) confirmed that Ounahi will remain with the squad, benefiting from appropriate medical care while continuing to contribute to team unity and morale.

Now, the mission is clear for Walid Regragui’s men: overcome the Cameroonian challenge in the quarter-finals and keep alive the dream of a long-awaited continental title.