Morocco Captain Saiss Announces International Retirement
Last update: February 24, 2026
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Veteran defender says decision follows careful reflection after injury setbacks...
Veteran Morocco captain Romain Saiss announced on Tuesday his retirement from international football, bringing to a close what he described as the most beautiful chapter of his life.
Saiss’s decision comes after repeated injuries, including at the last Africa Cup of Nations, where he played only 18 minutes in the opening match against Comoros before being substituted because of a problem with his left thigh.
The 35-year-old former Angers and Wolverhampton Wanderers centre back said on social media that the decision followed careful reflection and was made with immense emotion.
Wearing the colours of Morocco and becoming captain will remain the greatest honour of my career, he wrote.
Every time I wore the shirt, I felt the weight of responsibility, but above all an indescribable pride.
His brief AFCON return in December followed an 18-month absence, also due to injury, after he had captained the side to the 2022 World Cup semi-final.
CBI News reports that Saiss’s retirement comes three months ahead of this year’s World Cup, where Morocco are set to face Brazil, Scotland and Haiti.
Saiss will continue his club career with Qatar Stars League side Al Sadd.
