Morocco manager cautious over Hakimi injury recovery

Morocco's head coach Walid Regragui stated on Sunday that he intends to remain extremely cautious with key player Achraf Hakimi during the Africa Cup of Nations, while the Paris Saint-Germain defender works on recovering from an ankle problem.

Regragui indicated just before the competition's first fixture versus Comoros that Hakimi appeared ready, yet ultimately the team captain sat out the entirety of Morocco's 2-0 victory in Rabat on Sunday.

Hakimi last featured on the pitch after picking up an ankle knock while playing for PSG against Bayern Munich in the Champions League on November 4, with Manchester United's Noussair Mazraoui stepping in at right-back for Morocco in the encounter with Comoros.

"We require Hakimi since he stands as Africa's top talent and ranks among the globe's elite, and no squad should miss out on their star performer, yet Mazraoui remains an excellent option," Regragui commented.

"He brings distinct attributes compared to Achraf, even though I believe Achraf could have aided us in this game.

"We chose not to gamble with Achraf. We remain highly protective of him, thus we will monitor his condition over the coming 48 hours to determine his availability to lead the lineup against Mali.

"We feel certain he will feature at some point in the AFCON, and we are prepared to wait for his return."

Morocco secured a win over Comoros in the event's initial clash, courtesy of strikes in the second period from Brahim Diaz, assisted by Mazraoui, and Ayoub El Kaabi, following Soufiane Rahimi's missed spot-kick early on.

This outcome prolonged their global record streak of victories to 19 games and positioned the hosts of the Cup of Nations favourably ahead of their upcoming clash with Mali in Rabat on Friday.

"This represents a solid beginning for our campaign, though we are keeping our expectations in check," Regragui remarked.

"Facing Mali presents a fresh challenge. They boast numerous high-calibre athletes, and we might enjoy reduced ball control, making it a genuine evaluation for both sides."

Stefano Cusin, the Italian manager of underdogs Comoros, expressed pride in his side's performance opposite Africa's leading side.

"I considered us robust at the back and tactically structured. I feel immense pride in my squad, we include many young prospects yet I believe we portrayed Comoros positively," he noted.

"Morocco form a formidable outfit, so acknowledging their superiority is straightforward, that reflects the truth.

"Morocco hold the title of Africa's premier team and rank globally among the finest. Losing to them carries no shame for us."