Morocco’s national team players have publicly shown support for captain Achraf Hakimi after French justice confirmed that the Paris Saint-Germain defender will stand trial in France over a rape accusation dating back to 2023.
Hakimi denies the accusation and remains presumed innocent as no trial date has been announced.
Speaking in Atlanta before Morocco’s final World Cup group-stage match against Haiti, goalkeeper Munir El Kajoui said the Atlas Lions remain behind their captain. “Everybody is supporting Achraf,” he told reporters. “He’s our standard in Morocco, so every time we will be behind him in everything.”
Morocco coach Mohamed Ouahbi has also kept the focus on the pitch while backing his captain. According to reports, Ouahbi said the team was behind Hakimi and described the player as relaxed despite the legal pressure surrounding him.
Support for Hakimi appeared beyond the national team in Paris, PSG ultras displayed a banner in support of the defender during a Champions League match against Monaco. The banner read “Achraf, total support.” PSG later clarified that banners are not official club statements, but the club also reiterated that Hakimi has denied the allegations and remains presumed innocent.
Hakimi also addressed the case directly on X after the latest court decision. “I sometimes feel like I have become an easy target,” he wrote. He added that he had been waiting for the trial since the first day and was now waiting for it impatiently because he would finally be able to speak.
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