Morocco handed boost as PSG grant Achraf Hakimi rest ahead of AFCON qualifiers

Paris Saint-Germain have confirmed that Moroccan defender Achraf Hakimi will be given a period of rest until the November international break, ruling him out of Saturday’s Ligue 1 meeting with Troyes.

The French champions announced the decision on Friday following discussions between head coach Luis Enrique and the club’s sporting management.

“In agreement with the coach and the Club’s Sporting Directorate, Achraf Hakimi will benefit from a period of rest until the start of the international window,” PSG said in a statement.

The decision means the 28-year-old will not feature when PSG host Troyes at the Parc des Princes on November 7, with the club opting to give the defender time to recover ahead of the international break.

Hakimi has been a regular member of Luis Enrique’s side this season and recently produced an outstanding performance in PSG’s 5-1 victory over Le Havre on October 30.

Hakimi arrives at international break after impressive display

The Moroccan captain scored his first career hat-trick and provided two assists against Le Havre, helping PSG extend their winning run to nine matches across all competitions.

He also played an important role in the club’s Champions League campaign, as the Parisians secured another victory against Villarreal on Tuesday.

His latest performances have further underlined his importance to the French champions, making the decision to rest him ahead of the international window significant for both club and country.

Morocco hopeful Hakimi will be available against Niger

Hakimi’s rest period comes at an important time for Morocco, who are preparing for two Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying matches against Niger in November.

National team coach Mohamed Ouahbi included the PSG defender in his 26-man squad announced on Wednesday.

He was named alongside Noussair Mazraoui, Nayef Aguerd, Issa Diop and other defensive options as Morocco prepare for the two encounters.

The Atlas Lions will host Niger at the Mohammed V Stadium in Casablanca on November 13 before travelling to the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat for the return fixture on November 17.

Both matches are scheduled to kick off at 20:00 Moroccan time.

PSG’s announcement does not indicate that Hakimi will miss either international fixture, providing a potential boost for Ouahbi as he prepares his squad for the two matches.

Atlas Lions target another qualifying success

Morocco head into the November international window top of Group A with six points, having recorded victories over Gabon and Lesotho.

The Atlas Lions will be looking to maintain their position with positive results against Niger as their AFCON qualifying campaign continues.

PSG, meanwhile, will face Troyes on November 7 in their final Ligue 1 fixture before the international break, with Hakimi set to sit out the encounter as he benefits from the club’s decision to rest him.