Morocco captain Achraf Hakimi remains fully focused on football despite ongoing legal proceedings in France, according to national team coach Mohamed Ouahbi following the Atlas Lions’ hard-fought 1-0 victory over Scotland at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The Paris Saint-Germain defender, who is set to stand trial in France over rape allegations that he strongly denies, played a key role as Morocco secured a crucial three points in Group C on Friday.
Speaking after the match, Ouahbi dismissed any concerns that the off-field situation had affected his star player.
“Achraf is doing very well. He started the day like everyone else, prepared for the game and helped motivate the entire squad,” Ouahbi told reporters.
“He was focused, determined and ready to perform. We all support him, and he remains very calm despite everything happening around him.”
Hakimi, widely regarded as one of the world’s top right-backs, was regularly jeered by sections of the crowd at Gillette Stadium near Boston. However, the 27-year-old appeared unfazed as Morocco claimed another important result on the global stage.
The victory follows Morocco’s impressive 1-1 draw against Brazil in their opening group match, leaving Ouahbi’s side with four points from two games. They now head into their final Group C encounter against Haiti knowing another positive result could secure a place in the knockout rounds.
Ouahbi was full of praise for his captain and believes Hakimi will continue to shine as the tournament progresses.
“He is the best right-back in the world,” the coach said. “He is an important leader for this team, for the staff and for Moroccan football. I am sure he will continue to prove his quality throughout this World Cup.”
Morocco’s winning goal arrived almost immediately after kick-off, with Ismael Saibari finding the net after just 71 seconds. The strike is currently the fastest goal scored at the 2026 World Cup and marked the midfielder’s second goal of the tournament after also scoring against Brazil.
Saibari’s outstanding performances have further boosted his growing reputation across European football. Reports suggest the PSV Eindhoven star is close to completing a move to Bayern Munich in a deal worth around €55 million.
Despite becoming one of the breakout stars of the competition, the 25-year-old preferred to keep the spotlight on the team’s objectives.
“Playing at the World Cup for Morocco has always been a dream,” Saibari said.
“Scoring two goals makes me very happy, but the most important thing is helping the team qualify from the group and go as far as possible.”
With confidence growing inside the Moroccan camp and qualification now within reach, the Atlas Lions will be aiming to finish the job against Haiti and continue their impressive World Cup journey.
