Moroccan international Ismael Saibari, who has scored eleven goals and provided four assists across all competitions this season with PSV Eindhoven, is regarded as a key player by former Atlas Lions Karim El Ahmadi and Ali Boussaboun.
“Saibari could be very important for Morocco during the AFCON, especially since we have often lacked squad depth in recent years,” El Ahmadi told the Dutch media outlet ‘Sportnieuws.’
“We have many players who like to have the ball at their feet, while he is an excellent deep-lying player. He simply has the talent to make a difference, whether through goals or assists,” added the former Feyenoord captain.
For his part, Boussaboun sees Saibari as “the best player in the Eredivisie this season” and the future star of the Moroccan national team for the 35th Africa Cup of Nations.
The former NAC Breda striker, however, warned about the risks related to Saibari’s participation in the AFCON, explaining that naturally, a player hopes to return from the tournament and maintain his momentum, but if his replacement keeps scoring goals, he risks ending up on the bench, as most coaches still follow the principle of not changing a winning team.
Boussaboun believes that shining with the national team could also benefit Saibari financially, emphasizing that if Morocco wins the tournament, it could add five to ten million euros to his transfer fee and further boost his confidence.
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