Regragui: "Hakimi's Injury Terrified Me, He's Irreplaceable, But We'll Work Hard for 100% Readiness Against Comoros"

Walid Regragui, head coach of the Moroccan national team, confirmed that the medical staff will work diligently to ensure Achraf Hakimi is ready to participate in the Africa Cup of Nations, noting the difficulty of replacing a player like the Paris Saint-Germain right-back.

Speaking at a press conference held today, Friday, to announce the squad for the friendly matches against Mozambique and Uganda, Regragui stated: "Everyone knows Hakimi's importance. His injury terrified me. He is our leader and the player who makes the difference, and now we have to wait to see if he will be able to make it to the Africa Cup of Nations."

He added: "There are people working quickly behind the scenes to try and get him back. We know who Hakimi is, and we know we have one of the best medical staffs in the world. At Paris Saint-Germain, things are handled professionally. Our relationship with the club is good."

Regragui continued: "When Hakimi got injured, doctors from both sides agreed to implement the best possible protocol to ensure his return, either by the end of the Africa Cup of Nations or with full readiness. Some say he will be present, others are doubtful, but what I can say today is that we will do everything to ensure he is 100% ready for the first match against Comoros, because Achraf is an irreplaceable player."

He concluded: "And if he isn't [100% ready], he will be with us anyway. He is the most important player for me, whether in the dressing room or on the field, and Achraf is the spirit of this team. We will do the impossible to have him with us, God willing."

He further stated: "For us Moroccans, Hakimi is the best player in the world, and his absence would be difficult, but that doesn't mean we will retreat or doubt ourselves. Over the last 14 or 16 matches, we have played 4 games without Achraf, which shows that we have solutions in case of his absence."