Double Blow for Al Nassr: Simakan’s Injury Deepens Cup Exit Wounds

Injury Deepens Cup Exit Wounds

Mohammed Simakan, Al Nassr’s French centre-back, faced a heavy blow as the team’s King’s Cup hopes were dashed with a 2-1 defeat to Al Ittihad.

Simakan started in central defense alongside Spaniard Inigo Martinez, but was forced off in the second half after suffering a muscle injury, with Abdul Ilah Al-Omari coming on to replace him.

According to the Saudi sports daily Al-Riyadiyah, the injury is a hamstring issue, and the player will undergo medical imaging in Riyadh to determine the extent and the expected recovery time.

Simakan’s absence sits atop a growing list of injuries that is complicating coach Jorge Jesus’s plans for the coming fixtures.

The defender arrived at Al Nassr from RB Leipzig in the summer of 2024 for around 35 million euros and has since featured 51 times, scoring three goals and providing two assists.

With Simakan unavailable, Abdul Ilah Al-Omari is set to partner Inigo Martinez in central defense, as the Portuguese coach reshapes the back line.

Saad Al-Nasser, the left-back, had already endured a tough run—tore ligaments in his right ankle during a match against Istiklol Dushanbe in the AFC Champions League group stage and began rehabilitation at the club’s facility following the incident.

The club announced the ligament tear in a public update and said the player would undergo physiotherapy and rehab to return to match fitness, having joined Al Nassr in a 2023 deal reportedly worth around 40 million riyals for a 24-year-old.

Al-Nasser’s injury was followed by a new setback during a friendly with Diriyah in October, after he had begun his return to action, prompting further caution from the medical staff.

Also on the injury radar is Abdul Malik Al-Gaber, who joined from Zeljezničar (Bosnia) in a deal worth over 1.5 million euros, and who picked up a knee cartilage issue during pre-season that required surgery and a prolonged spell out of action.

Al Nassr confirmed the midfielder’s condition, with doctors indicating a surgical requirement that sidelined him for months and forced the team to recalibrate their midfield options during a crucial phase of the season.

Meanwhile, young striker Saud Haqwi sustained a separate injury during the U20 World Cup in Chile, where he appeared for the Saudi squad but had to exit the tournament early due to injury concerns, ruling him out of several league fixtures and Asian competition appearances this month.

The recurring injuries have prompted a race against time for several players to return ahead of a busy schedule, and the squad is leaning on Abdul Ilah Al-Omari to bolster the defense alongside Martinez, with the coach juggling the squad’s depth across competitions.

Since the start of the season, Simakan has appeared in 12 matches across all competitions, scoring one goal, and the club will hope for a swift return as they seek stability at the back and a sharper collective edge in forthcoming clashes.

In short, with Simakan out, Al Nassr will rely on a fortified defensive pairing while aiming to salvage form in both domestic and continental commitments, hoping the medical team’s work translates into a quick, clean return to the field.

Punchline 1: If injuries were target practice, Al Nassr’s physio room would have earned a medal—and the team would still be adjusting the sight.
Punchline 2: Simakan’s injury might steal the show, but don’t worry—the club’s motto: “Next man up, next man… who’s keeping score anyway?”