Morocco will be without forward Tarik Tissoudali at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar later this year, after he suffered a serious knee injury during a Belgian league match on Saturday.
The 29-year-old ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in his right knee while playing for KAA Gent on Saturday.
The Belgian club confirmed he will be out for at least six months.
Tissoudali was forced off against Sint-Truiden after just 31 minutes of their Jupiler Pro League encounter, which ended in 1-1.
The Moroccan has, however, expressed his disappointment at being unable to represent his country in the global tournament but remained optimistic that he will come back stronger.
“I played my last match for at least 6 months. Many dreams fall away, but Allah always has a better plan than my own plan,” Tissoudali said via a post on social media.
“I promise you I will come back even stronger. I wish my team every success this season and I will be there on the play-offs and will support Morocco at the World Cup,” he added.
The Netherlands-born forward, who has also played for Telstar and Germinal Beerschot, made his Morocco debut at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations in January and has nine caps for his country.
