Morocco captain Achraf Hakimi is “very calm” despite confirmation that he faces trial in France on rape charges.
Atlas Lions’ coach Mohamed Ouahbi said this after the 1-0 win over Scotland at the World Cup on Friday. “He is fine. He woke up this morning, ate like everyone else, got ready for the game and motivated everyone,” Ouahbi said after the game.
Quahbi added “Hakimi said he was there in the dressing room, focused and determined to put in a big performance. He did that, and so there is nothing to say. We are behind him, and he is very calm, totally unfazed.”
The 27 year-old Champions League winner faces allegations that he raped a 24-year-old woman in the Paris region in 2023, which he denies. The reigning African footballer of the year was regularly booed by fans in the crowd of over 64,000 at the Gillette Stadium near Boston during Friday’s encounter.
His team’s win over Scotland followed a 1-1 draw with Brazil in their opening World Cup game last weekend. The Africans have four points from two Group C games.
They now face Haiti in Atlanta on Wednesday in a game Ouahbi has confirmed Hakimi will feature as they aim to clinch a place in the next round
Ismael Saibari Continues To Shine For Morocco
Ismael Saibari 71 seconds strike, the earliest so far at this year’s World Cup, was Morocco’s match-winner against Scotland.
The goal was the second of the tournament for the 25-year-old, who also netted against Brazil.
“It has been a dream of mine since I was little to play at a World Cup for my country. I have done it, and scored two goals. So I am really pleased but the most important thing is to get out of the group and go as far as possible,” Saibari said.
The PSV Eindhoven star is understood to be close to sealing a 55 million-euro move to Bayern Munich.