Moroccan national team captain Achraf Hakimi has announced his full recovery and readiness to play in the opening match of the Africa Cup of Nations, which will see the Atlas Lions face Comoros on Sunday. Hakimi made the announcement during a press conference on Saturday, confirming his recovery from a recent injury. He also indicated that the decision regarding his starting position rests with national team coach Walid Regragui.
The right-back for Paris Saint-Germain said: “I feel in very good physical condition. I’ve worked hard to reach this point, but we’ll see what coach Walid Regragui decides regarding the starting lineup.” These statements are intended to reassure Moroccan fans who are counting heavily on Hakimi’s contributions in this continental tournament being held in Morocco.
Background of the injury and the challenge of returning
Hakimi suffered a severe ankle sprain during the sixth round of the Champions League on November 4th, an injury that threatened his participation in the Africa Cup of Nations. Regarding this period, Hakimi stated: “It was undoubtedly a difficult time; I faced significant challenges, but my determination to represent my country and defend the national jersey motivated me to exert maximum medical and physical effort to recover and seize this exceptional opportunity.”.
Context of the event and the importance of the tournament for Morocco
This edition of the Africa Cup of Nations holds paramount importance for the Moroccan national team, as the tournament is being held on home soil and in front of their fans. This event comes at a time when Moroccan football is experiencing a qualitative leap forward following their historic achievement at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, and as they seek to make amends for their early exit in the round of 16 of the previous edition in Ivory Coast in early 2024. Morocco's hosting of the tournament places the "Atlas Lions" under positive pressure to win the title that has eluded them since 1976, a point emphasized by Hakimi, who stated that "this edition is different and exceptional because it is on our land and in front of our families.".
Regragui praises the leader's sacrifices
For his part, coach Walid Regragui made no secret of his admiration for Hakimi's fighting spirit, praising the high level of professionalism with which he handled his injury. Regragui said, "I take this opportunity to thank him. The way he recovered and the sacrifices he made for five weeks for his national team were amazing." The national coach added, explaining the medical situation, "The treatment protocol after the injury was more than positive, but we want to protect him and not risk his future. We have tonight to think it over. He could start tomorrow's match, or he could not. The decision will be made based on what's best for the team.".
Team spirit transcends individual achievements
Hakimi concluded by emphasizing the team's priority, stressing that he is not thinking about individual accolades as much as he is focused on seeing Moroccans happy with a continental title. Hakimi is participating in the continental cup for the fourth time in his career, armed with extensive experience gained in Europe's top leagues with Real Madrid, Borussia Dortmund, Inter Milan, and Paris Saint-Germain, making him a key pillar in Regragui's project to win the African Cup.
