Hakimi's Situation with Morocco Ahead of International Break

Despite facing a suspension for the upcoming match against Gabon and dealing with a recent thigh injury, Achraf Hakimi has been selected to join the Moroccan national team for the upcoming international break. This decision has raised eyebrows, particularly given the context of his current physical condition and the implications of his suspension.

The Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) squad is set to return to training on Thursday afternoon following a two-day break. There is significant interest in whether Hakimi will be able to participate, especially since he sustained a "slight injury to his right thigh" during the recent match against Brest. The club had announced on Monday that he would be sidelined for two days, and further medical updates are anticipated shortly.

While Hakimi remains uncertain for the crucial encounter between Olympique de Marseille and PSG this Sunday, he has nonetheless been named in Morocco's roster for their upcoming international duties. The Lions of the Atlas, who have not played since their quarter-final exit against France in the 2026 World Cup last July, will kick off their qualifying campaign for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (CAN) on September 25 in Rabat, facing off against Gabon.

Hakimi's Suspension Details and Future Matches

It is important to note that Hakimi will miss the match against Gabon due to a suspension stemming from an incident involving a towel during the last CAN final. The Moroccan captain received a two-match suspension, one of which was suspended, for attempting to grab the towel of Senegalese goalkeeper Édouard Mendy. This unsportsmanlike conduct also led to a similar penalty for teammate Ismaël Saibari, who saw his original three-match ban reduced to two. The suspension only applies to CAF competitions, which is why both players were able to participate normally in the 2026 World Cup.

Although Hakimi will not compete against Gabon, he is expected to be available for Morocco’s second CAN qualifying match against Lesotho, scheduled for September 29, provided he recovers physically. Additionally, the national team will face Ghana in a friendly match in Tangier on October 4. Thus, Hakimi could potentially participate in two out of three matches during this international break, which is notably fewer opportunities compared to European internationals who will play four Nations League matches during the same period, starting on September 21 and concluding on the weekend of October 10.

As reported by culturepsg.com.