Morocco captain Achraf Hakimi has described playing the Africa Cup of Nations on home soil as a “positive responsibility”, as the Atlas Lions prepare for their tournament opener against Comoros on Sunday.
Speaking alongside head coach Walid Regragui ahead of the match, Hakimi said the squad is fully aware of the expectations that come with hosting AFCON and believes the pressure can serve as motivation rather than a burden.
“We’ve already discussed it with the team, we know what we need to do, we know our responsibility,” Hakimi said. “It’s a positive responsibility that motivates us to be ready for this competition and to continue what we’ve been doing for the past two years.”
The Paris Saint-Germain defender acknowledged that lessons had been learned since Morocco’s exit from the previous AFCON, stressing the importance of emotional control in front of home crowds. “We know we’re playing at home and that there are a lot of expectations, but we have to control ourselves and play as usual,” he said. “In the end, we just have to do what we know how to do, which is play football.”
For Hakimi, this year’s tournament carries added personal significance. The Comoros match will mark his fourth AFCON appearance, but the first in Morocco. “This is my fourth AFCON. I’m a veteran now,” he said with a smile. “But this one is different. It’s special because you’re playing at home, with your country, with your family, with all the Moroccans behind you. It gives extra motivation to defend our country and give everything for this shirt.”
Hakimi also reflected on his recent injury scare, admitting there was concern about missing the tournament altogether. “I was a little scared after my injury,” he said. “I didn’t want to miss this AFCON at home. From the very beginning, I told the coach I would do everything I could to be with the team. I feel ready now, but it’s the coach’s decision.”
Despite questions over his playing time, the captain insisted individual concerns are secondary to the team’s ambition. “I don’t think about individual things,” Hakimi said. “If I only play for one minute and my team wins, that’s enough for me. I only think about the team and about seeing Morocco win this Cup on 18 January.”
Morocco enter the tournament as one of the favourites, and Hakimi’s words underline a squad focused on unity, discipline and delivering success in front of their home supporters.
The United States has announced a ban on a range of Canadian products, including alcoholic beverages, dairy goods and motorcycles, as retaliatory C...
Four people were killed, including a child, in Ukrainian strikes on the Russian port city of Novorossiysk overn...
Wildfires have broken out in Türkiye’s Antalya province, forcing hundreds of people to evacuate as strong winds fuelled the flames....
Four people were killed, including a child, in Ukrainian strikes on the Russian port city of Novorossiysk overnight, according to the governor of the Krasnodar region. Ukraine's drone forces commander, Robert Brovdi, said Russian military ships were destroyed in the attacks.
A TV channel was struck during a live broadcast on Tuesday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said, as Russian strikes on Kyiv killed at least three people, the city's Mayor Vitali Klitschko said. Meanwhile, drones hit civilian infrastructure in Russia's southwestern Saratov region.
U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said its forces destroyed five Iranian crude oil carriers after the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) allegedly launched two ballistic missile attacks against a U.S. Navy warship over the past two days.
U.S. special envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff have held talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kyiv on Sunday on efforts to end Russia’s war in Ukraine.
Indonesia has reopened Jakarta's main airport and four others after volcanic ash from Mount Anak Krakatau forced widespread flight cancellations, though fresh eruptions have kept authorities on alert.
Four people were killed, including a child, in Ukrainian strikes on the Russian port city of Novorossiysk overnight, according to the governor of the Krasnodar region. Ukraine's drone forces commander, Robert Brovdi, said Russian military ships were destroyed in the attacks.
North Korea has built a new uranium enrichment facility at its Yongbyon nuclear complex in the northwest of the country and begun operating an expanded site at Kangson, near the capital Pyongyang, the United Nation’s nuclear watchdog has said.
Israel has ordered the closure of the British consulate in East Jerusalem and banned 12 British nationals from entering the country, escalating a diplomatic row with London over Israeli settlements in the West Bank.
Start your day informed with the AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top stories for the 9th of September, covering the latest developments.
The United States has announced a ban on a range of Canadian products, including alcoholic beverages, dairy goods and motorcycles, as retaliatory Canadian tariffs on U.S. imports take effect.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment