Morocco Leads Group with Strong Position for AFCON 2025 Despite Injury Concerns

With a win and a draw, Morocco leads its group. The Atlas Lions are in a strong position to advance in the tournament, showcasing impressive results as their captain is set to return to the pitch soon.

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In a match where all goals came from penalties, Morocco demonstrated dominance without securing a victory against Mali (1-1). Star player Achraf Hakimi remained sidelined, still recovering from an ankle injury. In a post-match press conference, Moroccan coach Walid Regragui provided an update on Hakimi’s condition: “For the third match, there’s a chance we’ll see Achraf start or come on to get the engine running […] He will definitely be ready for the knockout rounds.” This is excellent news for Morocco.

Great pressure on their shoulders

Like his teammates, the Paris Saint-Germain full-back carries immense pressure. Despite the talent within the Moroccan squad over the years, they have not always achieved the expected success on the international stage. In their 20 appearances at the Africa Cup of Nations, they have won just once, in 1976. Morocco reached a second final in 2004 but was defeated by Tunisia (2-1). Playing at home, the Atlas Lions dream of clinching the AFCON title 49 years after their sole trophy in the competition.