The absence of Moroccan national team star Zakaria Aboukhlal from the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, set to be held in Ivory Coast next January, has been confirmed. French club Toulouse announced on Thursday that their player Aboukhlal underwent successful surgery that could keep him off the field until the end of the season. They wished him a swift return to play.
Aboukhlal, who plays for the "Atlas Lions," suffered a knee injury while participating with Toulouse in a match against Belgian club Saint-Gilloise last Thursday in the Europa League group stage. His injury is a significant blow to the Moroccan national team as they prepare for the Africa Cup of Nations, in addition to starting their qualifying campaign for the 2026 World Cup.
Aboukhlal is Toulouse's top scorer, having netted three goals in the league this season, in addition to 15 goals and five assists across all competitions last season. He also played a key role in helping his team win the French Cup by defeating Nantes 5-1 in the final match.
