Marseille suffers a setback, Aguerd absent after Cornelius and Gouiri
While OM already has to compensate for the absence of Derek Cornelius, injured during the match against Canada, and Amine Gouiri, unavailable with Algeria, the club suffers another setback: Nayef Aguerd will not join Morocco to face Lesotho and will stay in Morocco to continue his recovery protocol.
International alert for OM
The Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) confirmed that Nayef Aguerd will remain in Morocco to continue his recovery protocol at the Mohammed VI Football Complex in Maâmora, alongside the U23 national team staff. The Marseille defender did not travel with the Atlas Lions to South Africa for the match against Lesotho, scheduled for Tuesday as part of the 2027 AFCON qualifiers.
Aguerd had just rejoined the senior national team and had played the full 2‑0 victory over Gabon on September 25, providing an assist to Noussair Mazraoui. Despite this performance, the FRMF notes that he remains available for the senior national team for the upcoming friendly against Ghana, scheduled for Sunday, October 4 at the Grand Stade de Tanger. This decision shows the desire to preserve his physical condition before returning to club.
Consequences for OM and outlook
Marseille must now cope with the absence of Cornelius in central defence, injured during the match against Canada, as well as Amine Gouiri, unavailable with Algeria. The addition of Aguerd’s unavailability further complicates OM’s defensive stability during the international break. The coach will have to reorganise the back line by relying on the reserves.
Aguerd’s recovery programme aims to allow him to return to competition gradually, while OM will monitor his progress in the coming days. His absence does not constitute a complete withdrawal from the Moroccan national team, but represents a new challenge for the club, which must manage several simultaneous absences. Observers stress the importance of a controlled return to avoid further injuries.
The match against Lesotho, which would have taken place in South Africa, will be played without the contribution of the OM defender. The FRMF emphasized that the decision is not related to a travel issue, but to the need to continue the recovery protocol after the previous injury. The schedule remains unchanged, the fixture will take place on Tuesday as planned.
If Aguerd does not take part in the South African qualifier, he can still be selected to face Ghana on October 4, thus giving OM the prospect of a quick return before the league resumes. This possibility reassures the staff, who hope to see him resume training as soon as the break ends.
This series of setbacks could affect OM’s performances in Ligue 1, with the club needing to find alternative defensive solutions while preserving the fitness of its key players. The tight schedule of the national competition leaves little room for maneuver.