Morocco head coach Walid Regragui has publicly expressed his gratitude to Paris Saint-Germain for their cooperation over Achraf Hakimi’s return to the national team during the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations, Softfootball reports.
Hakimi, who was recently crowned African Player of the Year, has been sidelined since picking up an injury during PSG’s UEFA Champions League defeat to Bayern Munich. The setback raised doubts over his availability for Morocco at AFCON, prompting careful handling by both club and country.
According to Fabrizio Romano via his official X handle, Regragui acknowledged the French club’s role in ensuring Hakimi could rejoin the squad, despite fitness concerns. Romano posted:
Morocco manager Regragui: Let me say thanks to Paris Saint-Germain. If Hakimi is back today, it’s thanks to them. There’s not even one single club in the world that was gonna let us have Hakimi 15 days before the AFCON. Nasser Al Khelaifi is a gentleman.
As a result, the PSG full-back has started the tournament on the bench for Morocco, watching on as the Atlas Lions opened their campaign with a win over Comoros before settling for a 1-1 draw against Mali in their second group game. His absence on the pitch has been noticeable, given his importance to Morocco’s attacking and defensive balance.
However, Morocco are now set to receive a major boost, with Hakimi expected to return for their final group match against Zambia tomorrow. His comeback could prove decisive as Regragui’s side look to build momentum heading into the knockout stages.
With PSG’s cooperation and Hakimi’s recovery now aligned, Morocco will be hopeful that their star man can make an immediate impact as AFCON progresses and the stakes continue to rise.
