Achraf Hakimi Named In Morocco’s AFCON Squad Despite Injury Concern [Full Squad]

Morocco have included captain Achraf Hakimi in their final 26-man list for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), even though the star full-back is still recovering from an ankle injury.

Achraf Hakimi, 27, sprained his ankle after being fouled during Paris Saint-Germain’s Champions League clash with Bayern Munich last month. His fitness has been a major talking point ahead of the tournament, which Morocco will host.

Head coach Walid Regragui, speaking in Washington after last week’s 2026 World Cup draw, struck an optimistic tone about the defender’s recovery. He said: “We hope he (Hakimi) will be available for our first match against the Comoros.”

Morocco will open the competition against the Comoros on 21 December in Rabat. Regragui said the reigning African Player of the Year remained central to his plans. He added: “He is doing better. He is improving. He wants to be here (Morocco). He is our leader, our captain.”

The Atlas Lions have been drawn in Group A alongside the Comoros, Mali and Zambia. The top two sides will progress automatically to the knockout stage, with four of the best third-placed teams also advancing.

Regragui has named a strong squad loaded with established internationals. Goalkeeper Yassine Bounou, Manchester United defender Noussair Mazraoui, midfielder Sofyan Amrabat and striker Youssef En-Nesyri are all included.

Morocco will be chasing their second continental title. Their only win came in 1976 when they finished first in a final round-robin format in Ethiopia. Only three nations have won the AFCON on home soil this century: Tunisia, Egypt and the Ivory Coast.

Below is Morocco’s Full Squad For the 2025 AFCON

Goalkeepers: Yassine Bounou (Al Hilal/KSA), Munir El Kajoui (Renaissance Berkane), El Mehdi Al Harrar (Raja Casablanca)

Defenders: Achraf Hakimi (Paris Saint-Germain/FRA, capt.), Mohamed Chibi (Pyramids/EGY), Jawad El Yamiq (Al-Najma/KSA), Romain Saiss (Al Sadd/QAT), Abdelhamid Ait Boudlal (Rennes/FRA), Nayef Aguerd (Marseille/FRA), Adam Masina (Torino/ITA), Noussair Mazraoui (Manchester Utd/ENG), Anass Salah-Eddine (PSV Eindhoven/NED)

Midfielders: Oussama Targhalline (Feyenoord/NED), Sofyan Amrabat (Real Betis/ESP), Ismael Saibari (PSV Eindhoven/NED), Neil El Aynaoui (Roma/ITA), Bilal El Khannouss (Stuttgart/GER), Azzedine Ounahi (Girona/ESP)

Forwards: Brahim Diaz (Real Madrid/ESP), Ilias Akhomach (Villarreal/ESP), Chemsdine Talbi (Sunderland/ENG), Youssef En-Nesyri (Fenerbahce/TUR), Ayoub El Kaabi (Olympiacos/GRE), Soufiane Rahimi (Al Ain/UAE), Abdessamad Ezzalzouli (Real Betis/ESP), Eliesse Ben Seghir (Bayer Leverkusen/GER)

Standby: Youssef Belammari (Raja), Hamza Igamane (Lille/FRA)