Achraf Hakimi Out for Several Weeks Due to Ankle Injury
Achraf Hakimi, the Morocco right-back for Paris Saint-Germain, has been sidelined for several weeks due to a severe sprain of his left ankle.
This injury is a significant concern for Atlas Lions coach Walid Regragui, especially with the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations approaching. The tournament, hosted in Morocco, is set to commence on December 21, marking the first time the nation has hosted since 1988.
The 27-year-old player sustained the injury during Tuesday's 2-1 defeat against Bayern Munich in the Champions League. He left the pitch in tears during first-half stoppage time following a reckless challenge from Luis Diaz, who was subsequently sent off after a Video Assistant Referee review.
Hakimi was instrumental in Morocco's historic run to the semi-finals of the 2022 FIFA World Cup and played a crucial role in helping the team qualify for the 2026 edition with a perfect record.
He is among the ten nominees for this year's African Footballer of the Year Award and is regarded as a leading contender for the prestigious accolade. Additionally, he was recently named in this year's Fifpro World XI.
Hakimi's Injury Described as 'Bad Luck'
Paris Saint-Germain announced Hakimi's injury on their official website on Wednesday afternoon. Coach Luis Enrique referred to the situation as "bad luck" following the match, emphasizing that injuries are a part of football, a contact sport.
He recalled a similar incident involving Bayern's Jamal Musiala, who suffered a leg fracture during the Club World Cup quarter-final between the two teams in July, highlighting the unpredictable nature of the sport.
Bayern's coach, Vincent Kompany, expressed his concern for Hakimi's recovery, stating, "All that matters is that Hakimi recovers quickly. The intensity levels were massive. It is an unfortunate moment, and that can happen. He didn’t mean to injure him."