Rabat – Morocco captain Achraf Hakimi will miss the Atlas Lions’ opening two matches of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers against Gabon and Lesotho, according to Almountakhab.
The report says Hakimi will serve a two-match suspension imposed by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) Disciplinary Committee following incidents that occurred after the 2025 AFCON final against Senegal.
Morocco will also be without midfielder Ismael Saibari for the opening qualifier against Gabon.
However, Almountakhab reports that CAF’s Appeals Committee partially upheld his appeal, reducing his suspension and allowing him to return for the second match against Lesotho.
Hakimi’s absence is expected to pose a significant challenge for Morocco’s technical staff, as the Paris Saint-Germain defender plays a central role in the national team’s tactical setup and serves as captain.
According to the report, the suspension applies only to official AFCON qualifying matches and will not affect any international friendlies Morocco plays during the upcoming FIFA international window.
