Achraf Hakimi will miss Morocco’s upcoming gathering after suffering a thigh strain against Brest on September 13, with Luis Enrique prioritizing the defender’s full recovery over a rushed return.
The thigh strain occurred during PSG’s Ligue 1 clash with Brest on September 13, forcing Hakimi off before halftime with Fabián Ruiz sent on as his replacement. PSG initially planned two days of care before a further assessment, without issuing a full recovery timetable.
By September 18, the 27-year-old had progressed to individual training, though this offered no guarantee of a return to full team sessions or matches. He subsequently sat out PSG’s September 20 trip to Marseille.
Luis Enrique confirmed ongoing dialogue between the club and the Moroccan federation over Hakimi’s fitness, ruling him out of Morocco’s opening qualifier while stressing confidence in the player and the importance of international duty for him. Full recovery, the coach said, remains the priority before any competitive return. Known for his speed, skill, and modern fullback flair, Hakimi remains one of Morocco’s most important attacking outlets whenever he is fit to play.
Morocco face Gabon on September 25 and Lesotho on September 29 in CAN 2027 qualifying, with a friendly against Ghana following on October 4 in Tangier. Hakimi’s absence for the Gabon match is not only medical but disciplinary, as he is serving part of a two-match CAF suspension—with a one-year suspended element—stemming from incidents in the previous AFCON final.
The Lesotho fixture stands as his likeliest opportunity to feature this window, pending medical clearance. Morocco have retained him in the squad despite his certain absence against Gabon, with medical staff continuing to assess his condition throughout the gathering.
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