RABAT, Morocco — Host nation Morocco has announced its 28-man squad for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), featuring a major inclusion in injured captain Achraf Hakimi. The 27-year-old full-back, recently crowned the 2025 African Player of the Year, sprained his ankle while playing for Paris Saint-Germain in a UEFA Champions League match against Bayern Munich last month.
Head coach Walid Regragui confirmed the selection on Thursday and addressed the speculation surrounding his star player’s fitness.
Speaking after the 2026 World Cup draw in Washington last Friday, head coach Walid Regragui said: “We hope he (Hakimi) will be available for our first match against the Comoros.”
Regragui reinforced Hakimi’s importance to the Atlas Lions squad, adding: “He is doing better. He is improving. He wants to be here (Morocco). He is our leader, our captain.”
Tournament outlook and Group A dynamics
Morocco will open the biennial African football showcase on December 21 in Rabat against the Comoros. They are placed in Group A alongside the Comoros, Mali, and Zambia.
In the tournament structure, group winners and runners-up will automatically advance to the knockout phase, along with the best four teams among the six third-placed finishers.
Also Read: Nigeria names star-studded 28-man AFCON 2025 squad
Other established stars joining Hakimi in the squad include goalkeeper Yassine Bounou (Al Hilal), Manchester United full-back Noussair Mazraoui, seasoned midfielder Sofyan Amrabat (Real Betis), and striker Youssef En-Nesyri (Fenerbahce).
Morocco is seeking to secure only their second-ever AFCON title.
Their sole victory came in 1976 in Ethiopia, where they finished first in a unique mini-league format tournament after drawing with Guinea in the final match.
Historically, AFCON host nations rarely win; only three of the 13 hosts this century—Tunisia, Egypt, and Ivory Coast—have been crowned champions.
Morocco 2025 AFCON squad
| Position | Player Name | Club/Country |
| Goalkeepers (3) | Yassine Bounou | Al Hilal/KSA |
| Munir El Kajoui | Renaissance Berkane | |
| El Mehdi Al Harrar | Raja Casablanca | |
| Defenders (9) | Achraf Hakimi (Capt.) | Paris Saint-Germain/FRA |
| Mohamed Chibi | Pyramids/EGY | |
| Jawad El Yamiq | Al-Najma/KSA | |
| Romain Saiss | Al Sadd/QAT | |
| Abdelhamid Ait Boudlal | Rennes/FRA | |
| Nayef Aguerd | Marseille/FRA | |
| Adam Masina | Torino/ITA | |
| Noussair Mazraoui | Manchester Utd/ENG | |
| Anass Salah-Eddine | PSV Eindhoven/NED | |
| Midfielders (6) | Oussama Targhalline | Feyenoord/NED |
| Sofyan Amrabat | Real Betis/ESP | |
| Ismael Saibari | PSV Eindhoven/NED | |
| Neil El Aynaoui | Roma/ITA | |
| Bilal El Khannouss | Stuttgart/GER | |
| Azzedine Ounahi | Girona/ESP | |
| Forwards (8) | Brahim Diaz | Real Madrid/ESP |
| Ilias Akhomach | Villarreal/ESP | |
| Chemsdine Talbi | Sunderland/ENG | |
| Youssef En-Nesyri | Fenerbahce/TUR | |
| Ayoub El Kaabi | Olympiacos/GRE | |
| Soufiane Rahimi | Al Ain/UAE | |
| Abdessamad Ezzalzouli | Real Betis/ESP | |
| Eliesse Ben Seghir | Bayer Leverkusen/GER | |
| Standby (2) | Youssef Belammari | Raja |
| Hamza Igamane | Lille/FRA |
