Hakimi breaks Morocco record in Paraguay win

Achraf Hakimi etched his name into Moroccan football history as Morocco national football team defeated Paraguay national football team 2-1 in an international friendly in Lens.

The Paris Saint-Germain full-back played a decisive role in the victory at Stade Bollaert-Delelis, continuing his influence as one of Morocco’s most important players.

Hakimi’s contribution went beyond the result, as he broke a long-standing national record previously held by Noureddine Naybet.

The 27-year-old is now Morocco’s top assist provider since 2000, with 17 assists to his name.  A reflection of his consistent impact in the final third from a defensive position.

He also reached another milestone with the win, recording his 64th victory for the national team, surpassing Naybet’s tally of 63 wins.

Hakimi has become central to Morocco’s evolution into one of the most competitive teams on the global stage. His attacking output, combined with his defensive responsibilities, has made him one of the most complete full-backs in world football.

Since Morocco’s historic run to the semi-finals of the 2022 FIFA World Cup, the team has continued to build on its success, with Hakimi playing a leading role in that progress.

Under head coach Mohamed Ouahbi, Morocco have maintained their upward trajectory, with Hakimi involved in key attacking phases during recent matches.

At just 27, Hakimi still has time to extend his records further. With the 2026 FIFA World Cup approaching, he is expected to remain a central figure for Morocco.

The Atlas Lions are set to face Brazil, Scotland and Haiti in the group stage.  Fixtures that will offer further opportunities for Hakimi to add to his growing legacy.

For now, his latest milestone underscores his importance to Morocco’s golden generation, as he continues to redefine the role of a modern full-back on the international stage.

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Daraja Kapoor
Daraja Kapoor is a highly respected football journalist, editor and analyst, known for his compelling storytelling and sharp, data-driven insights into the game. He specialises in match analysis, features, emerging talent coverage and football trends across Africa.He holds a degree in English from the University of Cape Coast and has built a strong reputation in the media industry through his disciplined approach and deep understanding of football.Daraja received his journalistic training at leading news platform Ghanaguardian.com and has worked with some of the most prominent football websites in Ghana, including Footballmadeinghana.com and Ghanasoccernet.com. He also served as Sports Editor of Talysports.com, where he played a key role in shaping editorial direction and content strategy.He is currently the Managing Editor of African.Football, where he leads the platform’s editorial vision, overseeing content production, quality control and the delivery of authoritative African football coverage to a global audience.

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