Nice's Belhanda out 4-6 weeks, set to miss Africa Cup of Nations

If Morocco is to conquer the Africa Cup of Nations for the first time since 1976, the Atlas Lions will likely have to do so without Younes Belhanda.

On Friday, OGC Nice announced Belhanda is unavailable for four-to-six weeks after suffering a toe injury in Les Aiglons' scoreless draw at FC Girondins de Bordeaux on Wednesday. The 2017 Africa Cup of Nations is set to kick off in Gabon in just over three weeks, meaning the Moroccan attacker is set to miss the tournament.

Belhanda's injury comes as he is looking close to his old self. A key part of Montpellier HSC's squad when the club defied the odds and won the 2011-12 Ligue 1 title, he subsequently slipped into obscurity. But, at Nice, the 26-year-old is a large reason why Les Aiglons sit atop the Ligue 1 standings going into 2017, boasting three goals and three assists through 16 appearances.

As BBC Sport's Mark Gleeson explains, Belhanda's injury may open up a spot in Morocco's squad for AFC Ajax's Hakim Ziyech, who was omitted from the Atlas Lions' preliminary squad due to his place in the pecking order.

"To play behind the striker, I already have Belhanda and (Mbark) Boussoufa, who are on form and playing in clubs who are leaders of their championship," Herve Renard, Morocco's manager, said. "At some point, you have to make choices. I think that a guy like Ziyech, if he does not have any playing time after two to three games, will find it difficult - for him and for the staff and for the squad."

After Morocco plays friendlies against Iran and Finland on Jan. 6 and Jan. 9, respectively, the Atlas Lions will kick off their 2017 Africa Cup of Nations adventure against the Democratic Republic of Congo on Jan. 16.