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Rabat – Morocco head coach Walid Regragui has reassured fans that right-back Achraf Hakimi will be present at the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations, despite concerns over his recent injury with Paris Saint-Germain.
Speaking after Morocco’s friendly win against Mozambique, Regragui explained that if Hakimi misses the opening matches, Bayern Munich defender Noussair Mazraoui is the best option to step in.
“Mazraoui does not have the same qualities as Achraf. He is not a player who attacks deep, although today he combined well with Brahim Diaz,” Regragui said. “The idea I have is that Achraf will be at the Africa Cup of Nations, and the problem will be solved. If Achraf is absent, then of course this is the best position for Noussair.”
Morocco will continue their preparations with a friendly against Uganda on Tuesday at the Grand Stadium of Tangier. The Atlas Lions are building momentum ahead of AFCON 2025, which will be hosted in Morocco, adding extra pressure and expectation on the team to perform in front of home fans.
Regragui expressed satisfaction with his defensive line, even though he continues to rotate players in each match. He praised captain Romain Saïss, who returned to the squad during the current camp.
“Many matches we played without our full defense. Sometimes Hakimi, Mazraoui, Aguerd, or Masina were missing. We always made changes, yet we did not concede goals. This shows our defensive strength,” he explained.
The coach acknowledged that it is always possible to concede goals in a football game, whether from a set piece or individual error. But stressed the team’s strong confidence level, stressing: “What matters to me is that we have trust. Even if we concede, we know we can score. As a coach, I tried many defenders, but I trust 200% in my back line.”
When asked about Saïss, Regragui stressed the defender’s leadership role.
“Saïss is an experienced player. When he was injured, nobody showed they were better than him or Nayef. He played two World Cups and three Africa Cups. Now we have a young group, and they need guidance,” he explained. “The pressure will be there at AFCON, and they must understand that the trophy has to stay in Morocco. This desire can only be passed on through experienced players.”
