World Cup Qualifying: Morocco rest Achraf Hakimi from Zambia match

With a place at the 2026 FIFA World Cup finals sealed, Morocco coach Walid Regragui has had the luxury of dropping one of his stars.

The Atlas Lions crushed Niger 5-0 on Friday to confirm their World Cup place. This leaves Morocco with their remaining three matches merely academic.

It is against this background that Regragui has rested star defender Achraf Hakimi from Monday’s World Cup qualifier against Zambia. Addressing the media, the coach confirmed the exclusion of the right-back: “Against Zambia, I will give Hakimi a rest.”

The Ballon d’Or nominee has earned his breather after such a busy schedule for club and country in recent months. He led Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) to their first-ever UEFA Champions League title, emerging as the highest scoring defenders of the competition.

Hakimi was also heavily involved in domestic battles before PSG switched to the FIFA Club World Cup participation.

The Atlas Lions jetted into Zambia on Saturday ahead of the academic match against Chipolopolo. Morocco reached the unsurpassable threshold of 18 points in their group, eight points ahead of second-placed Tanzania.

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