Hakimi and Saibari join Morocco squad late but will miss Gabon opener

Achraf Hakimi and Ismael Saibari joined the Morocco squad two days after the team’s training camp began, but both players are suspended for Friday’s Africa Cup of Nations 2027 qualifier against Gabon.

The pair arrived at the Mohammed VI Football Complex in Maamora on Wednesday after receiving permission from Morocco manager Mohamed Ouahbi, according to Le360 Sport.

Neither player will be available for the match at Rabat’s Moulay Abdellah Stadium, where Morocco begin their qualifying campaign. They are serving suspensions imposed by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) for “unsporting behaviour” during the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final.

Hakimi and Saibari were sanctioned at the end of January after attempting to take Senegal goalkeeper Edouard Mendy’s towel during a prolonged incident in extra time.

Hakimi received a two-match ban from official competition, with one match suspended. Saibari was given a three-match suspension and fined 100,000 dollars.

Television cameras showed Hakimi taking Mendy’s towel on 18 January before throwing it behind the advertising hoardings, apparently at the request of supporters.

Saibari, meanwhile, stood in front of Yehvann Diouf to prevent him from returning the towel to Senegal’s first-choice goalkeeper. The footage went viral and became one of the defining images of a controversial final.

Hakimi faces trial in France

Hakimi also faced a legal development on Wednesday after France’s Court of Cassation confirmed that the Paris Saint-Germain defender must stand trial on a rape charge before the Hauts-de-Seine departmental criminal court.

The Morocco captain is accused by a young woman over alleged events dating back to February 2023. He had appealed to the Court of Cassation after the Versailles Court of Appeal upheld his referral for trial in July.

That ruling represented the final avenue of appeal within the French justice system, meaning the case will proceed to trial.

Hakimi has consistently denied the allegations and maintains his innocence. He will seek a dismissal of the case.