Ismael Saibari explains his mistake in the AFCON final

The Belgian-Moroccan player is returning to his club after an intense month spent in Morocco, marked by a penalty shootout defeat against Senegal in the final. For him, this return to Dutch daily life is a brutal transition. "It’s quite strange. After being locked up there for a month, I’m suddenly back here," he told ESPN upon his arrival. Despite the sadness of having narrowly missed the title, he claims to have had time to digest this disappointment, notably thanks to a period of forced rest. He now says he is proud of the journey made with the Atlas Lions, even if he acknowledges that something was missing to lift the trophy.

One of the most discussed moments of this final concerns his behavior towards Senegalese goalkeeper Édouard Mendy. Saibari wanted to explain this controversial gesture, which he attributes to the extreme tension of the match. He quickly took the initiative to apologize, both on social media and to the player concerned. "What happened in the final was due to emotion," he admitted, before adding: "But it was a mistake. I am aware of my fault. That’s why I apologized." The midfielder assures that the incident is now closed and that he wishes to move on.

Now focused on his club season, Ismael Saibari feels ready to resume competition. He closely followed PSV’s good results in the league and cup during his absence. Although he feels physically fit, his participation in the next match against NAC Breda remains subject to the decision of his coach, Peter Bosz. The player, however, clearly expressed his desire to return to the field as soon as possible: "I would like to play tomorrow, but it will depend on the coach." His presence could bring a new impetus to the Eredivisie leader for the rest of the competition.