Morocco head coach Walid Regragui has thrown his full support behind Achraf Hakimi ahead of the Atlas Lions’ next crucial fixture, expressing total confidence in the right-back’s physical readiness, technical quality, and growing leadership role within the squad.
Regragui believes the Paris Saint-Germain defender is peaking at exactly the right moment and is primed to rise to the occasion when it matters most.
“Tomorrow, Achraf will put in a massive performance, both physically and technically,” Regragui said. “You can see that he is growing stronger with every game. He has reached a level where he naturally leads the team.”
The Moroccan coach stressed that Hakimi’s value goes far beyond his performances on the pitch, highlighting his influence as a figurehead for the team’s ambition and collective belief.
“He carries our dream,” Regragui added. “Through his energy, mentality, and commitment, he represents what this team wants to achieve.”
As Morocco prepare for another decisive test, Hakimi’s presence is expected to be central to their plans—not just as an elite right-back, but as the embodiment of the team’s drive, confidence, and hunger for success.
Samuel Ahmadu is a distinguished multimedia journalist and women's football expert with over 15 years of experience in the industry. On the back of domestic engagement since 2008, he began his international career journey at Goal.com in February 2014, where he served as an African women's football correspondent for nearly eight years. During his tenure at Goal.com, Samuel covered major events such as three Women's Africa Cup of Nations (2016, 2018, 2022) and the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada plus 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. His work at Goal.com earned him widespread acclaim, particularly for his in-depth profiles of African football stars, notably Asisat Oshoala, whose rise he documented from her early years to her breakthrough at the FIFA U20 Women's World Cup in 2014. Prior to his role at Goal.com, Samuel freelanced for various print and broadcast media outlets in Nigeria, including Graphics Newspaper, Radio Nigeria, Grace FM, and Savid Newspaper. His extensive experience and expertise led to his appointment to the Nigeria Football Federation's Standing Committee on Women's Football Development from 2016 to 2018. Since February 2018, Samuel has been the Social Media Manager for Nigeria's women's national teams.In 2019, Samuel joined the Confederation of African Football (CAF) as a women's football content contributor and was promoted to Women's Football Editor in 2021. His contributions to women's football continued as he worked as a Media Consultant for Content Creation and Editorials at the 2022 CAF Women's Champions League. Currently, Samuel also serves as the spokesman for the Nigeria Women Football League, further solidifying his influence and dedication to the growth of women's football in Africa.
