Morocco’s final World Cup warm-up ended in a 1-1 draw with Norway in New Jersey on Sunday, but the result was overshadowed by injuries to key players. Noussair Mazraoui and Abde Ezzalzouli both limped off in the first half at Sports Illustrated Stadium, casting doubt on their availability for the Group C opener against Brazil in six days’ time. The same venue had hosted Scotland’s 4-0 victory over Bolivia a day earlier, underscoring the conjoined preparations of the group rivals.

Brahim Díaz struck in the eighth minute, finishing a flowing move initiated by Ezzalzouli down the left flank. Morocco controlled the early stages but were pegged back when Martin Ødegaard swept home Oscar Bobb’s pass in the 75th minute. The injuries, however, dominated the post-match agenda. Mazraoui, a regular at Manchester United, and Real Betis winger Ezzalzouli are central to Walid Regragui’s high-pressing system, and their premature exits forced an in-game reshuffle that disrupted the Atlas Lions’ rhythm.

Viewed from Brasília, the knocks represent a potential boost for the Seleção ahead of Saturday’s meeting at the MetLife Stadium. Yet Moroccan football has repeatedly defied expectations, most notably by reaching the semi-finals of the 2022 World Cup. The current side, which topped its qualifying group, will hope the injuries are minor and that the draw against a Norway team absent from the tournament serves as a timely warning rather than a setback.

Norway, for their part, used the fixture to prepare for their opening match against Iraq in Foxborough on 16 June. The European side displayed quality through Ødegaard and Bobb but lacked the edge to find a winner. For Morocco, attention now shifts to recovery and tactical fine-tuning. With the World Cup beginning in less than a week, the margin for error is slim. The coming days will determine whether the injuries are mere knocks or deeper blows to African football’s flag-bearers on the global stage.