Hakimi’s Absence Forces Regragui to Explore New Defensive Options

Morocco's coach, Walid Regragui, has an important choice to make as his team gets ready to play Lesotho in the last game of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers.

With their top defender, Achraf Hakimi, not playing, Regragui is likely to use Noussair Mazraoui from Manchester United as the right-back.

Hakimi is not in the team because the Royal Moroccan Football Federation and PSG agreed that he could play in the Paris 2024 Olympics, which is not part of FIFA's usual schedule.

Mazraoui will probably return to his usual right-back position after playing as a left-back against Gabon. Adam Masina, Adam Aznou, or Yahya Attiat Allah are some of Regragui's alternatives for the left side.

Morocco is eager to end the qualifications with a perfect record, having won all five of their previous games, even though they have already qualified to host AFCON 2025.

On Monday, the game will begin at the Stade d'Honneur in Oujda at 20:00 local time.