Tag: Achraf Hakimi

Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) defender Achraf Hakimi will miss the Champions League semi-final second leg at Bayern Munich next week due to a thigh injury, the European champions said on Wednesday.

PSG travel to Munich for the return leg on May 6, leading the tie 5-4, but the loss of Hakimi is a significant blow for Luis Enrique.

He played the full 90 minutes and even provided an assist in Tuesday’s first leg as PSG won 5-4 in a thrilling encounter at the Parc des Princes.

However, he was in visible discomfort in the closing minutes of the match, as PSG could not make any more substitutions.

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He is now set to miss the return leg as PSG look to defend their Champions League crown, while his participation in a crucial Ligue 1 title clash against Lens on May 13 is also in doubt.

The club released a statement that read: “Having sustained an injury to his right thigh during the match against Bayern Munich, Achraf Hakimi will be out of action for the next few weeks.”

Midfielder Warren Zaire-Emery, 20, is a likely replacement at right-back in the absence of Hakimi, who finished sixth in last year’s Ballon d’Or voting. It also raises questions over his availability for Morocco at the World Cup.

Second-choice goalkeeper Lucas Chevalier will miss PSG’s trip to Germany as well due to injury.

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African player of the year Achraf Hakimi will make his first appearance at the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) when hosts Morocco play Zambia on Monday, coach Walid Regragui confirmed.

“What he has done to come back is extraordinary. What I can say is that Achraf will play tomorrow,” Regragui said Sunday in Rabat, on the eve of Morocco’s last group game.

“Whether he starts or not, it will be his first match at the AFCON.

“What we want — because we want to go as far as possible — is that Achraf progresses with the team and that we can keep him for the whole competition.”

Hakimi has not played since suffering an ankle injury in action for Paris Saint-Germain at the beginning of November and was an unused substitute in Morocco’s first two matches at the Cup of Nations.

Without him, Morocco beat Comoros 2-0 in the tournament’s opening game before being held to a 1-1 draw by Mali on Friday.

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They sit top of Group A with four points from two outings and a win against Zambia will allow them to advance to the last 16 in first place in their section. A draw will also guarantee their spot in the knockout phase.

“I think people don’t realise what Achraf brings to our team,” Regragui added.

“We have played two games without our best player, our leader and captain, but we have not hidden. Other players have stood in for him.

“But would we be a different team with Achraf? Of course. He is the best player in Africa, one of the best in the world.”

Hakimi admitted his frustration at not having taken part in either of the first two matches and said he was disappointed that Moroccan supporters had jeered the hosts during the draw against Mali.

“We know it is not easy sometimes, that they want us to win and finish games by half-time, but we have to respect our opponents too,” said the defender who helped PSG win the Champions League last season.

“It is not normal for them to boo us. We want to have the supporters behind us.

“I experienced that at Paris Saint-Germain when we were not winning in the Champions League, we were losing games, people said we were not a great team and didn’t have a great coach, but we went on to be champions of Europe.

“If the fans are behind us we can be champions of Africa together.”

Meanwhile, Hakimi added he was delighted to see his friend and former PSG teammate Kylian Mbappe, now with Real Madrid, in the crowd at the match against Mali.

“It is really nice to see my friend here in my country. He really likes Morocco and comes here whenever he can with his family. He loves the food here!”

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Morocco captain Achraf Hakimi won the African Men’s African Footballer of the Year award on Wednesday, capping a season in which he lifted the UEFA Champions League with his club Paris Saint-Germain (PSG).

The 27-year-old also won a fourth Ligue 1 title last season and claimed the French Cup and UEFA Super Cup; however PSG came up short in the final of the Club World Cup as Hakimi was forced to settle for a runners-up medal in New York.

The right-back beat out two past winners in Liverpool’s Egyptian forward Mohamed Salah and Nigeria striker Victor Osimhen to claim the prize for the first time in his career.

Notably, he became the first defender in 52 years to win the African Footballer of the Year title.

“It’s really an honour for me to be here today and I’m proud to win such a prestigious trophy,” Hakimi said, before thanking his family, teammates and Morocco coach Walid Regragui.

“This trophy, it’s not just for me, it’s for all the strong men and women that have dreams in Africa and those that dream of becoming footballers.”

Hakimi is currently nursing a severely sprained ankle, but if fit, will lead hosts Morocco in the Africa Cup of Nations from December 21 as they seek to win the competition for the first time since 1976.

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Morocco’s Ghizlane Chebbak claimed the prize for the best women’s player on the continent, beating out fellow countrywoman Sanaa Mssoudy and Nigerian Rasheedat Ajibade.

The Al Hilal attacker was the leading scorer in the Africa Women’s Cup of Nations this year, although her side went down to Nigeria in the decider.

It was a bumper day for the ceremony’s host country, Morocco, as Yassine Bounou scooped up the best men’s goalkeeper award and the Moroccan under-20 World Cup-winning side was voted best men’s national team.

Watford 20-year-old Othmane Maamma of Morocco claimed best young men’s player, while compatriot Doha El Madani retained the title of best young women’s player.

Cape Verde boss Bubista was awarded men’s coach of the year after leading the nation with a population of 525,000 to a place at the 2026 World Cup.

Nigerian shotstopper Chiamaka Nnadozie won her third consecutive women’s goalkeeper of the year award.

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