Achraf Hakimi declares himself fit for AFCON as Morocco ease injury fears
Morocco captain Achraf Hakimi has confirmed he is fully recovered from an ankle injury and ready to feature at the Africa Cup of Nations following weeks of uncertainty over his fitness.
The African Footballer of the Year had been a major doubt for the tournament after suffering ligament damage while playing for Paris Saint Germain against Bayern Munich in the Champions League last month. His injury raised concerns about whether he would be available for the finals, especially with Morocco hosting the competition.
Speaking at a press conference on Saturday, the 27 year old struck an optimistic tone ahead of the opening match, insisting he feels prepared despite the setback.
“I feel good. I’m following the programme with the doctors and the coach (Walid Regragui). After that, we’ll see what the coach decides. You can ask him,” he told reporters.
“I was scared after my injury. I didn’t want to miss this Cup of Nations that we are hosting.
“I wanted to be there with the team. I don’t know when I’ll play, but I feel ready,” he added.
Morocco begin their AFCON campaign on Sunday with a Group A clash against Comoros in Rabat. While Hakimi is available, it remains unclear whether the coaching staff will risk starting him immediately or manage his return carefully.
Head coach Walid Regragui praised the defender for his commitment during recovery and highlighted the sacrifices he made to return in time for the tournament.
“He went above and beyond,” the coach said at the same press conference.
“His injury wasn’t straightforward. He made some tough decisions for his country. As a coach and a Moroccan, I want to thank him in front of everyone. He’s a true role model.”
However, Regragui stopped short of confirming Hakimi’s involvement in the opening match.
“Does he start, or do we rest him? We’ll see, that will be my decision,” the coach said. “He could start tomorrow … or not.”
Hakimi was named African Footballer of the Year at the CAF Awards last month but appeared at the ceremony in Rabat on crutches, which intensified doubts about his recovery timeline. Despite that, he was included in Morocco’s final squad earlier this month and has since been seen training with the rest of the team.
His return will be a significant boost for Morocco as they aim to make a strong start on home soil and challenge for the continental title.
