Morocco’s national football team manager Walid Regragui has adopted a highly cautious approach regarding the fitness of key defender Achraf Hakimi during the Africa Cup of Nations tournament. The Paris Saint-Germain full-back, who sustained an ankle injury during a Champions League encounter against Bayern Munich on November 4th, was notably absent from Morocco’s opening match against Comoros despite preliminary indications of his availability.
The strategic decision to exclude Hakimi from Sunday’s 2-0 victory in Rabat demonstrates the team’s priority on long-term player welfare over immediate competitive advantage. Manchester United’s Noussair Mazraoui filled the right-back position effectively, contributing significantly to the team’s success with an assist during the match.
Regragui emphasized the delicate balance between squad needs and player recovery, stating: ‘While Hakimi represents African football’s elite talent and his absence creates tactical challenges, we cannot compromise his rehabilitation process. Mazraoui delivered an exceptional performance, though Hakimi’s distinctive qualities would have provided additional dimensions to our game.’
The Moroccan medical team is implementing a meticulous 48-hour assessment protocol to determine Hakimi’s potential availability for the upcoming crucial encounter against Mali on Friday. The coaching staff remains optimistic about his participation in later tournament stages while maintaining their precautionary approach.
Meanwhile, Comoros’ Italian coach Stefano Cusin expressed pride in his team’s performance against the continent’s top-ranked nation, acknowledging Morocco’s superior quality while highlighting his squad’s defensive organization and tactical discipline against world-class opposition.