Azzedine Ounahi will be sidelined for between two and a half and three months after suffering a complete tear to the right biceps femoris while playing for Panathinaikos.

The Morocco midfielder’s injury is expected to rule him out until near the end of the calendar year, bringing an abrupt halt to a strong run of form.

Ounahi’s absence will also deprive Panathinaikos of a significant number of matches in Greece during the coming weeks. The club will have to cope without a player who had been building momentum at an important stage of the season.

The injury is equally damaging news for Morocco’s national team. Ounahi will miss the November international break and the two-legged 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying tie against Niger.

His lay-off means he will be unavailable for both matches, further limiting Morocco’s midfield options for the qualifiers.