Morocco and Paris Saint Germain (PSG) Achraf Hakimi is currently under investigation over allegations of rape.
Prosecutors charged Hakimi with rape on March 3, 2023, after a 24-year-old woman claimed that he raped her at his home.
However, Moroccan National Team coach, Walid Regragui said that the country supports the PSG defender. He also added him to his squad for the Africa Cup of Nations(AFCON) qualifiers.
Regragui said that the country was behind Hakimi and that he was innocent until proven guilty.
“For us, and all Moroccans, we are behind Achraf[Hakimi]. He has the presumption of innocence until it’s proven to the contrary,” he said during a press conference when he announced his squad on Monday.
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He further added that he was in constant contact with Hakimi and described him as someone who is strong on the pitch and beyond the pitch
“I speak with Achraf often, like I do with lots of players. He’s calm, and that’s most important. He’s someone who is strong on the pitch and beyond the pitch. We have to think of football first; he has people taking care of his business for him,” he explained.
Despite the charges against him, Hakimi has been allowed to travel out of France. Last week, he played for PSG against Bayern Munich in the Champions League in Germany.
The Atlas Lions will play South Africa on March 20th, 2023 in the AFCON qualifiers.
They will also play two back-to-back friendly matches against Brazil in Tangier on March 25 and Peru in Madrid three days later.
