Morocco winger Nordin Amrabat set to miss Portugal match

Morocco said on Sunday that winger Nordin Amrabat will miss the FIFA World Cup Group B clash against Portugal though he has been allowed out of hospital after suffering concussion during their opening game against Iran on Friday.

Amrabat, who played for Spanish club Leganes last season, was injured in a clash of heads with Iranian midfielder Vahid Amiri during the 0-1 defeat on Friday in St Petersburg and had to be taken to hospital, reported Xinhua news agency.

He spent Friday night under observation but was discharged on Saturday and returned to Morocco's training camp in Voronezh.

However, the Royal Moroccan Football Federation has issued a statement saying he will not be able to play for at least one week, meaning he is certain to miss Wednesday's game against Portugal in the Luzhniki Stadium and is doubtful to appear against Spain in the final group match in Kaliningrad on June 25.

The defeat to Iran in the opening game means that Morocco need to achieve at least a draw against Portugal on Wednesday to keep alive their hopes of progressing to the last 16.

--IANS

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