Hakimi Faces Whistles Amid Legal Troubles
In a dramatic turn of events during Morocco's recent victory over Scotland, the team’s captain, Achraf Hakimi, faced a barrage of boos from his own supporters. In response to the hostility directed at Hakimi, head coach Mohamed Ouahbi publicly defended his player, stating, "We have not discussed this issue, nor do we need to. We stand behind him. Hopefully, he will demonstrate at this World Cup that he is the best right-back in the world." This statement came on the heels of Morocco's 1-0 win against Scotland, showcasing Ouahbi's commitment to his team amidst the controversy.
Every time Hakimi touched the ball, he was met with an overwhelming chorus of jeers. The discontent from the fans was evident even before the match began, as many booed the Paris Saint-Germain star during the lineup announcement. The backdrop to this animosity is a serious legal situation: Hakimi is currently facing court proceedings due to a rape allegation. The Versailles Court of Appeal confirmed a process order against the 27-year-old, who reportedly attempted to prevent the proceedings from occurring. Hakimi has vehemently denied the accusations, expressing his eagerness to speak out on the matter, stating on social media, "Finally, I will be able to speak."
Morocco's Progress and Future Prospects
The allegations stem from a 2023 incident where a 24-year-old woman claimed she was raped during a meeting with Hakimi, whom she met via Instagram. Following the match against Scotland, Hakimi's teammates deflected questions regarding the ongoing legal issues. Star player Ismael Saibari, who scored the pivotal goal, and goalkeeper Bono refrained from commenting on the allegations, while Coach Ouahbi redirected the conversation towards Hakimi's performance, praising him as "very strong" and emphasizing the team's relaxed atmosphere.
Saibari himself has been making headlines, having previously scored in Morocco's opening match against Brazil, and now with a second goal, he has significantly raised his profile in the tournament. With this victory, Morocco is almost certain to advance to the knockout stage, currently sitting one point ahead of Scotland, who missed a critical opportunity to secure their own advancement. Additionally, the rising star is reportedly on Bayern Munich’s radar, with reports suggesting he has already passed a medical check during the tournament, although he declined to comment further after the win against Scotland, simply expressing gratitude before moving on to the next question.
As reported by welt.de.
