Paris St-Germain and Morocco right-back Achraf Hakimi has been ruled out for “several weeks” with a severely sprained left ankle.
The injury to his captain will be a major concern for Atlas Lions coach Walid Regragui ahead of the start of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, which is being held in the North African nation for the first time since 1988.
The tournament kicks off in less than seven weeks on 21 December.
The 27-year-old sustained the injury in Tuesday’s 2-1 loss to Bayern Munich in the Champions League, and he left the pitch in tears in first-half stoppage time after a rash challenge from behind by Luis Diaz.
Former Liverpool forward Diaz was subsequently sent off following a review by the Video Assistant Referee.
Hakimi was a vital part of the Morocco side which reached the semi-finals of the 2022 Fifa World Cup, and helped his country qualify for the 2026 edition with a 100% record.
He is on the 10-man shortlist for this year’s African Footballer of the Year Award and is seen as one of the top contenders for the prestigious trophy.
On Monday, he was also named in this year’s Fifpro World XI.
Hakimi injury an ‘unfortunate moment’
PSG announced the news of Hakimi’s lay-off on the club website on Wednesday afternoon.
Boss Luis Enrique had described the injury as “bad luck” after the match.
“That’s football, it’s a contact sport,” he said, before recalling the leg fracture suffered by Bayern’s Jamal Musiala during the Club World Cup quarter-final between the same teams in the United States in July.
“It’s a shame because it is complicated for the players, but I remember the injury Musiala got in the summer and it is just one of these moments of bad luck.”
Bayern coach Vincent Kompany added: “All that matters is that Hakimi recovers quickly.
“What can I say? The intensity levels were massive.
“It is an unfortunate moment and that can happen. He didn’t mean to injure him.”
source: BBC
