The head coach of the Saudi national football team, Frenchman Hervé Renard, announced a medical and technical decision that has thrown sports fans into disarray. Zakaria Hawsawi , the talented left-back for Al-Ahli, has been excluded from the current training camp. This decision comes at a crucial time, as the national team prepares for important friendly and official matches as part of its intensive preparation program for the 2026 World Cup, which represents the ultimate goal for Saudi football in the coming period to enhance its standing on the international stage.
Behind the scenes of Zakaria Hawsawi's exclusion and the medical report
The decision to exclude Zakaria Hawsawi was by no means a technical one, but rather a result of compelling circumstances imposed by his injury. The Saudi Arabian Football Federation published an official and detailed statement on its verified X platform, explaining that coach Hervé Renard made this decision based on the recommendations of the medical staff. The accompanying medical report confirmed the player's inability to continue participating in the national team's group training sessions, necessitating his immediate departure from the camp and return to his club, Al-Ahli Saudi FC, to begin a specialized treatment and rehabilitation program to ensure his full recovery and return to the field as soon as possible.
Injury challenges plague Renard on his World Cup journey
It's not just about Hawsawi; this absence raises questions about the physical challenges national team coaches have historically faced during international breaks. The Al-Ahli player's exclusion from the squad is the latest in a series of official absences that have plagued the Saudi national team recently. This follows the exclusion of two key players: the solid defender Hassan Tambakti and the star midfielder and forward Salem Al-Dawsari, both sidelined with injuries. These successive absences present the French coach with a real test in finding suitable replacements and preparing a bench capable of filling the gaps, highlighting the importance of building a broad base of internationally-ready players.
The impact of absences on Al-Ahly's plan to face Egypt and Serbia
This preparatory phase is of paramount importance both regionally and internationally, as the Saudi national team seeks to demonstrate its readiness to compete strongly for qualification to the 2026 World Cup. In this context, the Green Falcons continue their intensive preparations for their highly anticipated match against their Egyptian counterparts, scheduled to take place at 8:30 PM next Friday at Al-Inma Stadium. This match, along with the upcoming encounter against Serbia, will serve as a true test of the players' cohesion and their ability to implement Hervé Renard's tactical ideas.
The absence of key players like Hawsawi, Al-Dawsari, and Timbuktu will force the coaching staff to experiment with new names and adjust some tactical plans, especially in defense and attacking from the flanks. Despite the severity of the injuries, these challenging preparatory matches offer the national team a golden opportunity to gain experience against diverse footballing styles, enhancing the players' skills and raising the team's overall readiness before entering the official qualifying campaign, thus fulfilling the aspirations of Saudi sports fans.
