Fajr sits out Morocco training

Faycal Fajr of Morocco

Saturday Jan 22, 2022. 11:00

Morocco midfielder Fayçal Fajr remains sidelined with injury as The Atlas Lions step up preparations for Tuesdays last 16 date against Malawi in Yaoundé.

The Turkey-based player sustained an injury in the 57th minute of last Tuesday’s final Group C match against Gabon that ended 2-2.

Fayr was absent from Friday’s training session in Yaoundé after the team was given a day off on Thursday by coach Vahid Halilhodzic.

The midfielder has played in Morocco’s last two Group C matches after sitting out on The Atlas Lions first match against Ghana that they won 1-0 on January 10.

Meanwhile, Belgian-born striker Ryan Mmaee of Ferencvaros in Hungary trained with the first team for the first time.

Mmaee, 24 travelled to Cameroon with an injury sustained in pre-AFCON 2021 camp in Rabat.

Morocco finished top of Group C and unbeaten on 7 points, two points more than Gabon while debutants Comoros finished third on 3 point and all three sides made it through to the last 16.

The Atlas Lions are chasing their first AFCON title since 1976 and made their last final appearance in 2004 in what was the last North African derby final that they lost 2-1 to hosts Tunisia.