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.
Freight on the Baku–Tbilisi–Kars railway could soon move faster across borders after Georgia, Azerbaijan and Türkiye signed a new ...
U.S. President Donald Trump has denied reports that he offered Iran sanctions relief and access to frozen funds in exchange for nuclear concessions...
At midnight on 30 September, the last U.S. troops are due to leave Iraq, ending a military presence that began with the 2003 invasion and cost the ...
A Russian guided aerial bomb has struck an apartment building in Kharkiv, injuring 22 people, including children, according to the city’s mayor. The strike follows a day of near-continuous Russian attacks across Ukraine that killed at least five people.
Here's your AnewZ Daily Brief for 28 September 2026. These are the top stories making headlines in technology.
Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan has arrived in Washington for talks with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on bilateral ties and key regional and international developments, Saudi state news agency SPA reported.
Serbia's President Aleksandar Vučić resigned on Sunday, ending his second and final five-year term and paving the way for an early presidential election as the country prepares for a snap parliamentary vote on 25 October.
U.S. President Donald Trump has denied reports that he offered Iran sanctions relief and access to frozen funds in exchange for nuclear concessions.
At midnight on 30 September, the last U.S. troops are due to leave Iraq, ending a military presence that began with the 2003 invasion and cost the lives of around 4,500 American service members.
Here’s your AnewZ Daily Brief for 29 September 2026, with the latest from Azerbaijan, from $10.8 billion in investment deals and Formula 1 drama to diplomacy and preparations for major FIFA tournaments.
Crude oil exports from major Middle Eastern producers rebounded in September to their highest level since the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran began in late February, according to data from analytics firm Kpler.
Russian strikes hit Kyiv and Ukraine’s Black Sea region of Odesa overnight into Tuesday, damaging infrastructure and civilian sites, while Moscow said it had also targeted vessels carrying military cargo.
British police are investigating whether individuals linked to a foreign state were involved in an apparent plot targeting RAF Fairford, a British airbase used by the United States, while five suspects arrested in connection with the case are being released on bail.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment