Al Hilal goalkeeper Yassine Bounou was withdrawn from the starting lineup shortly before kickoff against Neom SC after feeling hamstring pain during warm-up, with Mohammed Al-Owais named as his late replacement.
Bounou had originally been named in the starting XI, as confirmed in pre-match lineups. However, during the warm-up session, the Moroccan goalkeeper felt sudden pain in his hamstring, located in the back of his thigh. The discomfort forced him to stop his warm-up routine and alert the medical staff, who assessed him on the spot.
Following a brief medical consultation, the decision was made to remove Bounou from the starting eleven. Al Hilal’s official channels announced that Mohammed Al-Owais would start in goal instead, with Mohammed Al-Rubaie added to the substitutes’ bench as additional goalkeeping cover. The change came just minutes before kickoff, leaving head coach Simone Inzaghi with no time to prepare Al-Owais specifically for the match.
The rest of Al Hilal’s tactical setup remained unchanged, with the adjustment limited to the goalkeeping position. The starting lineup still featured key players such as Ruben Neves, Sergej Milinković-Savić, Salem Al-Najdi Kanno, Crysencio Summerville, Ollie Watkins, Kalidou Koulibaly and Ali Tambakti. Neom SC lined up with Malang Sarr, Nathan Zézé, Amadou Koné and Alexandre Lacazette among their starters.
The timing of the injury added to an already difficult defensive situation for Al Hilal, who entered the match without several regulars, including Theo Hernández, Yusuf Akçiçek, Ali Lajami and Salem Al-Dawsari. Bounou’s withdrawal meant additional responsibility fell on Al-Owais, a Saudi international goalkeeper with prior experience for both Al Hilal and the national team. Bounou is widely regarded as Morocco’s number one goalkeeper, having been a key figure in the national team’s historic run to the semi-finals of the 2022 World Cup.
No official details have been released regarding the exact severity of Bounou’s injury or the expected recovery time. Reports describe the issue as a muscle problem affecting the hamstring, though it remains unclear whether it involves a strain or a more serious tear. Further medical tests are expected to clarify the diagnosis and determine how long the goalkeeper will be sidelined.
Get the Atlas Lions Weekly
The biggest Morocco football stories, player updates and analysis—delivered to your inbox every Sunday.
