Hakimi Suffers Severe Ankle Sprain, AFCON Participation in Doubt

PARIS, FRANCE – Paris Saint-Germain has confirmed that star right-back Achraf Hakimi suffered a severe sprain in his left ankle during the recent Champions League defeat to Bayern Munich.

While the good news is that the Moroccan international avoided a fracture, the injury is serious enough to threaten his immediate future for both club and country.

A Severe Sprain and 6-8 Week Recovery

The injury occurred following a reckless challenge during the first half of Tuesday’s match, forcing Hakimi off the pitch visibly distressed. PSG’s medical update today specified the severity:

• Diagnosis: Severe left ankle sprain. Crucially, tests confirmed no fracture, which would have meant a far longer lay-off.
• Timeline: Hakimi is expected to be sidelined for a minimum of six to eight weeks.
• Immediate Impact: This timeline effectively rules the 27-year-old out for the remainder of PSG’s fixtures in the 2025 calendar year, including their final Champions League group stage matches and crucial Ligue 1 games.

AFCON Participation Hangs in the Balance

The timeline creates major anxiety for the Moroccan national team. The 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) is scheduled to begin on December 21, 2025, in Morocco.

• Tight Race: If Hakimi’s recovery takes the full eight weeks, he would be targeting a return to full training exactly around the start date of AFCON.
• Morocco’s Host Role: As a key player and the face of the host nation, his potential absence or reduced fitness for the start of the tournament is a massive blow to Morocco’s hopes of winning the title on home soil. His involvement will be closely monitored by both PSG and the Moroccan FA in the coming weeks.

Focus Shifts to Replacement Options
Manager Luis Enrique now faces the immediate challenge of filling the crucial right-back position.

The primary candidate to step in will be Nordi Mukiele, with young academy players also potentially being called up to provide cover during the busy period leading up to the winter break.

The club must now rely on their squad depth to maintain their domestic and European ambitions without their influential defender.