Hakimi and Saibari to serve CAF bans after delayed Morocco arrival

Achraf Hakimi and Ismael Saibari joined Morocco’s training camp two days late on Wednesday, after receiving permission from head coach Mohamed Ouahbi.

The two internationals arrived at the Complex Mohammed VI de football in Maamora, two days after the rest of the Lions of the Atlas began preparations.

Neither player will feature when Morocco host Gabon at Rabat’s Moulay Abdellah stadium on Friday, in the opening round of qualifying for CAN 2027. Both are serving suspensions imposed by the Confederation africaine de football (CAF) for “unsporting behaviour” during the final of CAN 2025.

Hakimi was given a two-match ban, with one game suspended, while Saibari was suspended for three official matches and fined 100,000 dollars.

The sanctions followed an incident involving Senegal goalkeeper Edouard Mendy during extra time of the final. Hakimi and Saibari were found to have attempted to take Mendy’s towel during the match.

Television cameras showed Hakimi, on 18 January, taking the towel and throwing it behind the advertising boards, apparently at the request of supporters.

Saibari, meanwhile, stood in front of Yehvann Diouf to prevent him from passing the piece of fabric to Senegal’s first-choice goalkeeper. The footage became widely shared and was one of the defining moments of a controversial final.

Hakimi, who captains Morocco and plays for PSG, was also the subject of a new legal development in France on Wednesday.

The Cour de cassation confirmed that he will stand trial for rape before the cour criminelle departementale des Hauts-de-Seine. The decision follows an accusation by a young woman concerning alleged events in February 2023.

Hakimi had appealed to the Cour de cassation after the Cour d’appel de Versailles upheld the decision to send him to trial in July.

That appeal was the final route available within the French judicial system, meaning the trial will now go ahead. Hakimi has consistently denied the accusations and maintained his innocence.

The defender will seek to obtain a non-lieu.