Moroccan midfielder Sofyan Amrabat has undergone ankle surgery and will miss several weeks of action, dealing a blow to both club and country following the African Cup of Nations.
The 28-year-old had been dealing with pain during the tournament and was still called up despite the problem, but medical intervention was deemed necessary once the competition concluded.
The procedure took place shortly after Morocco’s AFCON campaign ended in its own country.
In a statement, his club confirmed the nature of the operation and the immediate next steps in his recovery.
“The international player was operated on by Dr. Gino Kerkhoffs under the supervision of the club’s medical staff. A joint debridement of his right ankle was performed. Amrabat will begin his post-operative recovery in Amsterdam and then continue his rehabilitation in Seville.”
The surgery, described as an ankle arthroscopy, is expected to keep Amrabat sidelined for four to six weeks, according to several reliable sources.
While no precise return date has been set, the midfielder now faces a period away from competitive football at a key stage of the season.
Amrabat becomes the second Moroccan international to undergo surgery after the 2025 African Cup of Nations.
He is followed by goalkeeper Munir El Kajoui, who also had to undergo surgery after suffering an injury during the tournament.
Munir, acting as Yassine Bounou’s substitute, underwent shoulder surgery after suffering a dislocation just two days before the AFCON final against Senegal.
That match, played on January 18, ended with Morocco losing 1-0 after extra time.
The decision to operate was made as a precautionary measure to avoid any risk of relapse, with his return expected at the end of April or beginning of May.
For Amrabat, the focus is now on recovery and rehabilitation.
The midfielder has been a central figure for Morocco in recent years and was once again heavily relied upon during the AFCON, even when suffering from an ankle problem.
His absence over the coming weeks will be closely monitored as club and national team staff assess his progress.
With the 2026 World Cup also coming up later in the calendar, managing his fitness and workload will be a priority.
For now, however, Amrabat’s immediate concern is a successful recovery as he works to return to full fitness after surgery.