Morocco head coach Walid Regragui has confirmed that captain Achraf Hakimi is fit and ready to face Zambia in Monday’s decisive Africa Cup of Nations group-stage clash, following two false starts to the defender’s tournament involvement.

Hakimi, who was named Africa’s Best Player at the Confederation of African Football awards last month, raised fitness concerns after appearing at the ceremony in Rabat on crutches. His condition cast doubt over whether he would recover in time to feature at the finals.

Although the Paris Saint-Germain right-back declared himself ready on the eve of the tournament, he was left unused in Morocco’s opening two matches — a 2–0 win over Comoros and a 1–1 draw with Mali — as the coaching staff opted for caution.

Speaking on Sunday, Regragui confirmed Hakimi is now fully available and expressed gratitude to PSG for their role in the player’s recovery. The Morocco boss praised the French club for releasing Hakimi early, allowing him to join the national setup ahead of schedule and continue his rehabilitation under the guidance of the team’s medical staff.

“I want to thank Paris Saint-Germain. If Hakimi is back with us today, it’s thanks to them,” Regragui said. “There’s not a single club in the world that would release a player 15 days before the start of the Africa Cup of Nations.”

Morocco head into the match against Zambia knowing that victory will secure top spot in the group. The Atlas Lions are aiming to lift the Africa Cup of Nations trophy for the first time since their historic triumph in 1976.