Hakimi stands up for Regraudi and the team

Morocco is managing a tough environment at home while under intense strain at AFCON 2025. Sections of the crowd jeered the Atlas Lions despite dominating their group during a 1-1 draw with Mali, a response that underscored the rising expectations surrounding Walid Regragui’s squad.

Since winning a second continental title is the clear goal, there is no room for error, and every performance is being carefully examined.

Achraf Hakimi broke his silence before the game against Zambia. The Moroccan captain called for patience and solidarity, acknowledging that criticism has a greater impact on the players than most people realize. He emphasized that AFCON 2025 is a challenging tournament with formidable opponents and warned supporters that wins, even at home, should not be taken lightly. Hakimi praised the team spirit that has been developed since the 2022 World Cup and expressed his whole support for Regragui.

Regragui reiterated this message, stressing that Morocco still leads the group with four points and advising composure and concentration. Both guys made the same plea: in order for the Atlas Lions to succeed and dream big at AFCON 2025, their supporters must be fully behind them and unified by a same goal.