Rabat – Moroccan international Soufiane Rahimi was forced to leave the pitch in tears after suffering an apparent hamstring injury during Al Ain’s match against Shabab Al Ahli in the UAE President’s Cup on Thursday.
The 30-year-old forward picked up the injury during the first half of the round-of-16 encounter at Rashid Stadium in Dubai.
Rahimi went down in the 27th minute before requesting to be substituted after appearing to experience discomfort in the back of his thigh.
He was unable to continue and was replaced shortly afterward.
The Moroccan international appeared visibly distressed after leaving the field, covering his face with his shirt while sitting on the substitutes’ bench before breaking down in tears.
His reaction raised concerns among Al Ain supporters about the possibility of a significant injury, particularly with the club facing several important fixtures in the coming weeks.
The exact nature and severity of Rahimi’s injury have not yet been officially confirmed, and it remains unclear how long he could be sidelined.
Al Ain face concerns ahead of crucial fixtures
Rahimi’s injury comes at a difficult moment for the Emirati club, which is competing in domestic and continental competitions.
Al Ain are scheduled to host Iranian side Tractor on Monday in the AFC Champions League Elite before returning to domestic league action against Ajman on Thursday.
The club will then travel to Saudi Arabia to face Al Ittihad on November 2 in another Asian Champions League fixture.
The Moroccan forward’s potential absence could represent a setback for Al Ain, given his importance to the team’s attacking options.
Rahimi has established himself as one of the club’s leading players since joining from Moroccan side Raja Casablanca in 2021.
He played a central role in Al Ain’s 2024 AFC Champions League triumph, finishing the competition as its leading scorer with 13 goals.
For now, attention will turn to Al Ain’s medical assessment to determine the extent of his injury and whether he will be available for the club’s upcoming matches.
