2026 World Cup Qualifiers : Morocco Climbs Back from Losing Position, Defeats Niger 2-1

 Morocco international Achraf Hakimi, currently sidelined with an ankle injury, said he was optimistic about returning to the pitch at the start of the Morocco 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, Canal+ reported.

Morocco’s team captain, recently crowned Best African Player of the Year at the CAF Awards 2025, shared encouraging news about his condition, expressing his hope to take part in the Atlas Lions’ opening AFCON match, the French channel reported.

“That’s good news, and it’s very impressive. He shows tremendous energy and the determination to recover 100%,” said a journalist from the channel who spoke with the PSG right-back. The journalist added that Hakimi will still need to wear his orthopedic boots for at least another ten days.

“The player thanked warmly the team surrounding him, which is a steady one. Here lies the secret of the success,” said the same source.

Highly prolific, Achraf Hakimi has built an impressive record, winning the UEFA Champions League, the FIFA Club World Cup, the UEFA Super Cup, and the Spanish Super Cup with Real Madrid, the German Super Cup with Borussia Dortmund, as well as the Italian championship with Inter Milan.

Ahead of the upcoming AFCON, which will be held in Morocco, the Atlas Lions will face the Comoros, Mali, and Zambia in the group stage on December 21, 26, and 29, respectively.

The Moroccan national football team won 1-0 against Mozambique in a friendly match played Friday evening at the Grand Stade de Tangier. 

The only goal of the match was scored by midfielder Azzedine Ounahi in the 7th minute of the first half. 

The Moroccan team will face its Ugandan counterpart in the second friendly match scheduled during this international break, on Tuesday at the Grand Stade de Tangier. 

These two friendly matches are part of the national team’s preparations for its participation in the Africa Cup of Nations, which Morocco will host from December 21 to January 18.

Moroccan Watford forward Othmane Maamaa won the Best Young Player of the Year award during the CAF Awards ceremony, held Wednesday in Rabat.

Maamaa had previously been named Best Player at the U20 World Cup held last October in Chile, which was won by the Atlas Lion Cubs.

The Moroccan national team goalkeeper and Al Hilal (Saudi Arabia) player, Yassine Bounou, was named Africa’s Best Goalkeeper for 2025 during the CAF Awards ceremony held Wednesday in Rabat.

Recognized for his outstanding performances with the Atlas Lions, Bounou was also selected in the FIFA Club World Cup Best XI, held last summer in the United States.

Moroccan international Achraf Hakimi was named African Player of the Year at the CAF Awards 2025 ceremony, held Wednesday evening in Rabat.

In 2025, Hakimi won the Champions League with Paris Saint-Germain, as well as Ligue 1, the French Cup, the Trophée des Champions, and the UEFA Super Cup.

He was also a key figure in the remarkable qualification of the Atlas Lions for the upcoming 2026 World Cup.

Egyptian Mohamed Salah, Liverpool forward, and Nigerian Victor Osimhen, Galatasaray striker, were also contenders for the African Player of the Year award.

The award was presented to Hakimi by FIFA President Gianni Infantino.

Morocco’s national head coach Walid Regragui unveiled the 27-player squad on Friday to take part in the upcoming friendly games against Mozambique and Uganda.

The list features the return of Romain Saïss and strikers Soufiane Rahimi and Sofiane Diop, the first call-up for PSV Eindhoven’s Anass Salah-Eddine, and the absence of Achraf Hakimi due to injury.

The Atlas Lions will play two friendly fixtures against Mozambique and Uganda on November 14 and 18, respectively, at the Grand Stade de Tanger (8 p.m.), as part of their preparations for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco.

Morocco will play in Group A of the AFCON, to be held from December 21 to January 18, alongside Comoros, Mali, and Zambia.

Here follows the list of players called up:

– Goalkeepers: Mounir El Kajoui (Renaissance Berkane), Yassine Bounou (Al Hilal/Saudi Arabia), Mehdi Lahrar (Raja Casablanca)

– Defenders: Romain Saïss (Al-Sadd/Qatar), Noussair Mazraoui (Manchester United/England), Nayef Aguered (Marseille/France), Adam Masina (Torino/Italy), Jawad El Yamiq (Al-najma/Saudi Arabia), Mohamed Chibi (Pyramids/Egypt), Youssef Belammari (Raja Casablanca), Anass Salah-Eddine (PSV Eindhoven/Netherlands).

– Midfielders: Azeddine Ounahi (Girona/Spain), Bilal El Khannous (Stuttgart/Germany), Ismael Saibari (PSV Eindhoven/Netherlands), Oussama Targhaline (Feynoord/Netherlands), Sofyan Amrabat (Real Betis/Spain), Neil El Ainaoui (AS Roma/Italy), Eliesse Ben Seghir (Leverkusen/Germany).

– Forwards: Brahim Diaz (Real Madrid/Spain), Chemsddine Talbi (Sunderland/England), Youssef En-Nesyri (Fenerbache/Turkey), Hamza Igamane (Lille/France), Ayoub El Kaabi (Olympiakos/Greece), Ilias Akhomach (Villareal/Spain), Abdessamad Ezzalzouli (Real Betis/Spain), Sofiane Diop (Nice/France), Soufiane Rahimi (Al Ain FC/United Arab Emirates).