Pyramids clears Walid El-Karti for Morocco’s Arab Cup run in Qatar

Key details

Officially, Egyptian club Pyramids FC has granted Moroccan midfielder Walid El-Karti permission to join his national team for the Arab Cup in Qatar, running December 1-18.

The club confirmed in an official statement that the Moroccan Football Federation requested and obtained their consent for the midfielder's inclusion.

The decision comes despite a crowded schedule, with two postponed league fixtures against Petrojet and Kahraba Ismailia scheduled for December 3 and 6, amid injuries and absences in the squad.

What happens next

The club stressed the move reflects cordial relations with all Arab national teams and serves the interests of both sides. El-Karti is expected to travel to Doha soon after returning from Zambia with Pyramids, once the club cleared him to join the Moroccan delegation.

In recent action, Pyramids beat Power Dynamos of Zambia 1-0 away in the CAF Champions League group stage. Earlier, coach Krunoslav Jurcic had said El-Karti would not participate in the Arab Cup due to club obligations.

Hours later, Pyramids appeared to reverse course by allowing another player, Marwan Hamdi, to join Egypt's squad for the tournament. The defending CAF Champions League champions are also eyeing a potential Intercontinental Cup semi-final on December 13 in Qatar, should they advance through the knockout rounds.

Next steps remain uncertain, but El-Karti's inclusion adds midfield depth for Morocco as they navigate the Arab Cup group phase and possible further rounds.

Sniper style punchline 1: If patience were a striker, this transfer would still be chasing the ball in stoppage time.

Sniper style punchline 2: The calendar has more cards than any referee—this move just gave it a red and a yellow.