Morocco's coaching staff has publicly backed captain Achraf Hakimi following a French appeals court decision Friday to confirm trial proceedings in a rape allegation case. Coach Mohamed Ouahbi stated the national team remains "behind" Hakimi and described the PSG defender as "very relaxed" despite legal developments.
Hakimi, one of Africa's most accomplished defenders, maintains his innocence regarding the charges and remains available for Morocco's World Cup campaign during the group stage.
The confirmation of trial proceedings adds significant external pressure to both the player and Morocco's tournament focus, with legal proceedings running parallel to the competitive group-stage phase.
Hakimi's ongoing legal situation may subtly affect Morocco's defensive cohesion; any court-related absences or mental impact could alter defensive line stability in remaining fixtures.
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