Morocco captain Achraf Hakimi has received a congratulatory message from the Confederation of African Football (CAF) after setting a new record at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The Paris Saint-Germain defender became the African player with the highest number of appearances in the tournament's history.
Hakimi Breaks African World Cup Appearance Record
The 27-year-old reached the milestone during Morocco's clash with Scotland, taking his total to 12 World Cup matches. This moves him ahead of two African football icons: Cameroon's Francois Omam-Biyik and former Ghana captain Asamoah Gyan, who both had 11 appearances.
Hakimi entered the 2026 World Cup with 10 appearances. He added another outing in Morocco's 1-1 draw against Brazil in Group C before featuring against Scotland, where he officially became the most-capped African footballer in World Cup history.
The full-back represented Morocco at the 2018 World Cup in Russia and played a key role in the team's historic run to the semi-finals in Qatar 2022. With 98 caps, he is the second-most-capped Moroccan player ever and aims to surpass Noureddine Naybet's national record of 115 caps.
CAF's Message of Celebration
The Confederation of African Football quickly recognized the achievement. CAF shared a message on X, stating: "A new African benchmark. Achraf Hakimi now holds the record for the most FIFA World Cup appearances by an African player." The message highlighted the significance of the accomplishment, with Hakimi now standing alone at the top of the African World Cup appearance chart.
His achievement reflects Morocco's growing stature on the international stage. The North African nation has established itself among the strongest teams on the continent, with Hakimi as a key figure behind their rise. Beyond defensive duties, the former Real Madrid and Inter Milan star offers attacking quality and leadership, making him one of the most influential players in modern African football.
At 27, the current African Footballer of the Year could extend the record further before the end of the 2026 tournament, with Morocco tipped for a deeper run.
Hakimi Addresses Sexual Assault Case
Legit.ng previously reported that Hakimi is expected to face trial in France over allegations of sexual assault connected to an incident on February 25, 2023. The Morocco captain posted a statement on X, insisting he is innocent and describing himself as a "soft target," stating he had been waiting to clear his name since the case began.
