Morocco sweat over Achraf Hakimi injury ahead of AFCON 2027 qualifiers

Morocco have been handed an injury concern after Achraf Hakimi was forced off during Paris Saint-Germain’s clash with Brest, raising doubts over his availability for the upcoming international break.

The Moroccan international was substituted before the end of the first half after sustaining the injury, with the incident immediately triggering concerns over his fitness ahead of PSG’s important fixture against Marseille and Morocco’s upcoming 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign.

PSG head coach Luis Enrique admitted after the match that it was too early to determine the severity of Hakimi’s injury, with the club’s medical team expected to conduct further examinations.

“I hope the injury isn’t serious; it’s hard to tell right now… that will be determined after he is assessed by the doctors,” Luis Enrique said after the game.

The results of those medical examinations will be closely monitored by Morocco, with the national team preparing to announce its squad for the upcoming AFCON qualifiers against Gabon and Lesotho.

Morocco coach Mohamed Wahbi is scheduled to hold a press conference next Thursday at the Mohammed VI Football Complex, where he will announce the players selected for the two matches.

Hakimi has become a key figure for both PSG and the Moroccan national team, making his fitness particularly important ahead of the September international window.

Morocco will begin their 2027 AFCON qualifying campaign at home against Gabon on Friday, September 25, at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat.

The Atlas Lions will then travel to South Africa to face Lesotho on Tuesday, September 29, in Bloemfontein.

With the two qualifiers approaching, the Moroccan technical team will be hoping Hakimi’s injury is not serious enough to rule him out of the squad.

The 27-year-old’s potential absence would also be a concern for PSG, who are expected to face Marseille next Sunday. His participation in that fixture is now uncertain depending on the outcome of his medical assessment and his recovery progress.

For Morocco, however, the priority will be establishing the extent of the injury as quickly as possible and determining whether Hakimi will be fit enough to join the national team camp.

The Lions’ medical and technical staff will therefore remain attentive to the updates from Paris as they await clarity on one of their most important players ahead of the start of their AFCON qualifying campaign.