Walid Regragui, the Moroccan national team coach, spoke in the mixed zone on the sidelines of the 2026 World Cup draw. He took the opportunity to provide an update on the return from injury of Achraf Hakimi, the 27-year-old Paris Saint-Germain right-back who was injured in early November against Bayern Munich, ahead of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) which starts at the end of December.
“Hakimi wants to be there for the first match.”
“He’s doing well, he’s doing what he has to do. He’s a hard worker. He wants to be there for the first match. He’s been working hard since his injury, he hasn’t stopped. He’s true to himself, with a great attitude. He’s our leader, our captain, our Ballon d’Or winner, so we hope he’ll be there from the very first match,” as reported by RMC Sport.
It’s clear that Hakimi is aiming to play the entire tournament without missing the early matches. This is understandable; the Africa Cup of Nations is always important, especially since it’s being held in Morocco. Things can change quickly, and he’s determined to help his national team and country go far. However, he needs to be careful not to rush things.
He shouldn’t take risks just to be fit to play against Comoros. His progress so far (he’s resumed individual training on the pitch) is encouraging, so we hope Hakimi will be fully fit and have no regrets later in the season.
