Casablanca – Noussair Mazraoui has left Morocco’s national team camp and will return to Manchester United after suffering an injury during the Atlas Lions’ 2-0 win over Lesotho on Tuesday.
The Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) confirmed that Mazraoui sat out Thursday’s training session at the Mohammed VI Football Complex in Maamoura and would return to his club on Friday.
“The Moroccan international will rejoin his club on Friday,” the federation said in its update, confirming that Mazraoui will not take part in Sunday’s friendly against Mali at the Grand Stade de Tanger.
The decision appears precautionary rather than the result of a major injury concern.
According to Moroccan sports outlet Almountakhab, medical examinations reassured head coach Mohamed Ouahbi and the national team’s medical staff after Mazraoui complained of back pain following a sliding challenge against Lesotho.
The report said the injury does not raise significant concern. Ouahbi nevertheless opted against taking any further risk and allowed the defender to return to Manchester, where he can continue his recovery before United resume club action.
Mazraoui left Tuesday’s match in the 69th minute, with Achraf Hakimi replacing him. Manchester United also acknowledged the injury after the game, noting the Moroccan’s strong performance before his early exit.
United returns to Premier League action against Tottenham at Old Trafford on October 10, giving the club’s medical staff several days to assess Mazraoui following his return from international duty.
United supporters react to Mazraoui’s Morocco form
The injury brought an early end to an international window that had also renewed discussion around the contrast between Mazraoui’s performances for Morocco and his role at Manchester United.
The 28-year-old opened the scoring in Morocco’s 2-0 victory over Gabon in their first AFCON 2027 qualifier, driving forward from left-back before finding the net from outside the penalty area. It marked his first international goal since October 2020.
His display quickly caught the attention of United supporters online.
One reaction to his Gabon goal simply asked, “How do we unlock this version at Man Utd?” Others questioned why Mazraoui has struggled to reproduce the same influence consistently at club level, while some supporters argued that his limited run of consecutive starts and different tactical responsibilities at United could partly explain the contrast.
Not everyone agreed with the comparison. Some fans pointed to the different pace and quality of opposition in international football, while others noted that Gabon’s goalkeeper could have dealt better with Mazraoui’s strike.
The discussion comes during a season in which Mazraoui has yet to establish a regular place in Michael Carrick’s starting XI.
He entered the international break with limited Premier League minutes but produced two influential displays for Morocco, scoring against Gabon before earning positive reviews for his performance against Lesotho.
However, the immediate concern now appears resolved: the medical assessment has eased fears of a serious injury, while Mazraoui will continue his recovery back in Manchester.
