At a press conference following their victory against Nigeria, Moroccan national team player Walid Regragui announced that Ashraf Hakimi would enjoy a rest in the next World Cup qualifying game against Zambia. This decision, taken with caution, aims to avoid a situation similar to that experienced by Didier Deschamps with the French team, who suffered the wounds of Désiré Doué and Ousmane Dembélé during their recent victory against Ukraine. The Moroccan picker stressed the importance of preserving his key players, including Ashraf Hakimi, who played the entire game against Nigeria, and other senior players.

The situation of Désiré Doué, who was injured during the game against Ukraine, is subject to thorough medical examinations to assess the severity of his injury. Unlike Ousmane Dembélé, who left the rally with an injury, the concern about Doué seems less important, although precautions are taken. This situation prompted the indignation of Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), which strongly criticized the management of the French selection regarding Dembélé’s injury, particularly because of his history of recent injuries.

The PSG, particularly concerned about the health of its national team players, expresses its dissatisfaction with the management of national selections. The qualifying campaign for the 2026 World Cup started on a positive note for the French team with a victory against Ukraine, but this victory was tarnished by the wounds of Doué and Dembélé. The decision to rest Ashraf Hakimi for the game against Zambia reflects Walid Regragui’s willingness to preserve his players and guarantee their availability for upcoming matches.