The national coach lauded Moroccan international Achraf Hakimi during the team's gathering on Monday, as they prepared for their upcoming matches. The coach took a moment to honor the Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) full-back, who made history by ranking sixth in the 2025 Ballon d'Or—a first for a Lion of the Atlas. «Let's congratulate Achraf (...) You finished sixth, but you're worth more», the coach declared in a video. «This achievement is unprecedented in Morocco. No Moroccan had done it before. Achraf is here, and I say it: he is an example. Everyone here should think: 'Achraf finished sixth, I will aim for fifth, fourth, third, second, and I will even win the Ballon d'Or.' That's the mindset you need to have to come back stronger», emphasized Walid Regragui. The gathering also provided an opportunity for the coach to honor two other standout figures of the national team: Yassine Bounou, who secured fifth place for the Yachine Trophy for the best goalkeeper, as part of the Ballon d'Or, and Ayoub El Kaabi, celebrated as the best foreign player in the Greek championship with Olympiakos. On Thursday, Morocco will face Bahrain in a friendly match, followed by a clash against Congo on October 14 as part of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers. Both matches are set to take place at the Moulay Abdellah Sports Complex in Rabat. The national team is also gearing up for a noteworthy participation in the Africa Cup of Nations (CAN 2025), scheduled to be held from December 20, 2025, to January 18, 2026, on home soil.
