Morocco international Soufiane Rahimi was forced off with an apparent hamstring injury during Al Ain’s 3-2 defeat to Shabab Al Ahli in the UAE President’s Cup on Thursday, October 22.
The 30-year-old forward went down in the 27th minute of the round-of-16 match at Rashid Stadium in Dubai and was unable to continue.
Rahimi appeared visibly upset after leaving the pitch, raising concerns about his availability for Morocco’s November internationals.
The severity of the injury and his expected recovery period have not yet been confirmed.
Rahimi forced off in first half
Rahimi experienced discomfort in the back of his thigh during the opening half against Shabab Al Ahli.
According to Morocco World News, the Al Ain attacker requested a substitution after going down in the 27th minute.
He subsequently left the field and was seen covering his face with his shirt on the substitutes’ bench before becoming emotional.
The circumstances raised concerns about a possible hamstring problem, although an official medical assessment is needed to establish the extent of the injury.
Al Ain went on to lose 3-2, with Shabab Al Ahli advancing to the quarter-finals of the UAE President’s Cup.
Morocco await updates ahead of November qualifiers
Rahimi’s injury comes less than a month before Morocco’s next international fixtures.
The Atlas Lions are scheduled to face Niger twice in November as part of their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign.
Rahimi remains an established attacking option in Morocco’s senior national-team squad.
He scored in Morocco’s 2-0 victory over Gabon during the September international window, demonstrating his continued importance to the national-team attack.
His availability for the upcoming matches will depend on the results of medical examinations and his recovery progress.
No confirmed timetable has yet been established.
Setback interrupts Rahimi’s club campaign
Rahimi has remained an important figure for Al Ain, particularly in continental competition.
In September, he became the club’s outright leading scorer in the AFC Champions League Elite, reaching 19 goals in the competition.
That achievement followed his influential performances during Al Ain’s 2023-24 continental title-winning campaign.
His scoring record and importance to the club were detailed in Atlas Lions Insider’s earlier report on his continental milestone.
Al Ain also face upcoming fixtures in domestic and Asian competitions, making the timing of his injury a concern for both the club and Morocco.
For now, the immediate question is whether Rahimi has suffered a minor muscular problem or an injury requiring a longer absence.
Further medical information will be needed before any conclusion can be drawn about his availability in November.
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