Ilyes Ziani sustained a severe injury ten minutes into his comeback appearance for RWDM during their match against Union Rochefort, leaving the pitch on a stretcher as supporters chanted his name at Stade Machtens.
RWDM Loses Points and Playmaker in Crucial Fixture
The fixture ended with RWDM dropping their first points of the season against Union Rochefort, but the primary concern for the club centers on the physical condition of their central playmaker. Ziani entered the match as a substitute to mark his return from a frustrating start to the campaign, only to go down ten minutes later. Medical staff carried him off the field on a stretcher, and the club confirmed that further examinations will determine the exact extent of the damage.
Ilyes Ziani werd op een draagberrie van het veld gedragen en zal verder onderzocht worden om de ernst van zijn blessure te bepalen. We houden jullie op de hoogte zodra de diagnose bekend is. pic.twitter.com/hkZS79gOq6— RWDM (@rwdm_brussels) September 30, 2026
Injury Repeats Familiar Frustrations for Ziani
The setback mirrors a nearly identical timeline from the previous season, when the RWDM captain suffered a severe knee injury at the exact same period of the calendar year. After spending months in recovery, he returned to action in February but managed only two starts in D1B before another prolonged absence disrupted his momentum. Prior to joining Molenbeek, Ziani was with SL 16 before shining under manager Yannick Ferrera during a promotion push.
Midfield Absence Creates Tactical Void for Molenbeek
Ziani’s extended absence last season proved central to the offensive struggles that hampered RWDM throughout the campaign. Operating primarily in the number ten role, his creativity and ability to dictate the tempo of matches established him as a cornerstone of the squad. With club officials awaiting diagnostic results from medical specialists, the coaching staff may have to play a significant stretch of the schedule without their primary creative outlet in the midfield.
RWDM Schedules Tests to Determine Playmaker Recovery Timeline
Club medical personnel stated that additional diagnostic tests are scheduled to evaluate the injury and confirm a definitive recovery timeline for the playmaker. RWDM announced they will release further updates regarding the diagnosis and subsequent rehabilitation schedule once the medical evaluation is complete.
