CAN 2025: Cameroon vs Morocco – Hakimi’s Key Role

Hakimi played the entire match and that presented a risk. The Parisian had not started since November 4 and the sprained ankle he suffered in a tackle from Luis Diaz against Bayern Munich in the Champions League. He only returned to competition during Morocco’s previous match against Zambia (3-0), playing the last half hour of the match. That he only played an hour against Tanzania seemed like the wisest decision, because he lacked rhythm and to limit the possibility of a relapse.

“The best of Achraf, we will see it in the quarterfinals”

But Walid Regragui decided otherwise. It was certainly preferable for Morocco still struggling in the game against Tanzania. But also in view of the rest of the tournament. “IWe had to take the risk of him playing 90 minutes, because the pace of the competition, you can work on it as much as you want, it remains a direct elimination match where there is a lot of tension“, he explained after his team’s qualification for the quarter-finals of “his” CAN.

Hakimi had delivered an uneven match, typically that of a player in the recovery phase. But his feelings improved as the minutes went by, and that wasn’t just reflected in his assist. “He grew up during the match, he found his bearings a littleunderlined Regragui. He still has benchmarks to find with Brahim (Diaz) and the midfielder who will play on their side, today it was Bilal (El Khannouss). The best of Achraf, we will see it in the quarter-finals.”

A different role, but the same impact as at PSG

Hakimi’s rise to power mainly coincided with that of his team, moribund in the first half. This is no coincidence. The Parisian is the leader of Morocco, the guide that the Atlas Lions need so much to assume both their status as CAN favorite on a purely sporting level, but also the pressure that the group must face for this competition played at home. Parameters which can partly explain why Regragui’s formation struggles to break free in the game.

Walid Regragui during Morocco-Zambia, December 29, 2025

Credit: Getty Images

It is precisely in this area that Hakimi has so much to offer. His role is not exactly the one he occupies in Luis Enrique’s system at PSG, but his impact is no less important in the selection than in the club, particularly in attack. Author of 11 goals in 90 caps, the 27-year-old full-back is one of the players most often sought after by his teammates. His influence on the Moroccan collective is crucial. “We can now balance the game between the two wings, especially with the return of HakimiRegragui said Thursday at a press conference. I hope he can give his best against Cameroon.”

The Thuram of the Atlas Lions?

It really wouldn’t hurt the Atlas Lions to challenge the Indomitable Lions. Cameroon, executioner of the Moroccans in the semi-final of the last CAN organized in Morocco in 1988 (1-0), promises tough opposition after a rather attractive start to the tournament. Seduction is precisely a quality that is lacking in Morocco. Hakimi is the type of player who can fix that. And the experience of major events acquired at Real, Dortmund and Inter and PSG will be valuable for a selection which is struggling to realize the potential of its workforce on the field.

From this point of view, the semi-finalist of the last World Cup still has a good example to follow. “I always remember because I grew up in Francesaid Regragui at a press conference after the match against Tanzania. 1998, when they won the World Cup in France, in the round of 16, they won with a golden goal against Paraguay, in the quarter-final they qualified on penalties and in the semi-final, they were down 1-0 against Croatia and it was their right back who had never scored a goal in his life who scored two goals.“Hakimi is a right-back who scores goals. And Morocco would not mind him being the Lilian Thuram they so need.

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Video credit: Eurosport