Morocco international Achraf Hakimi has spoken about the strong affection French superstar Kylian Mbappe has developed for Morocco, describing the Real Madrid forward as a genuine admirer of the North African country.
Hakimi made the remarks after Mbappe travelled to Rabat to support him during Morocco’s Group A encounter against Mali at the ongoing 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.
According to the Moroccan defender, Mbappe has been enjoying his stay in the country, embracing both the culture and local cuisine.
“Kylian Mbappe really loves Morocco,” Hakimi said. “He’s enjoying our country and the Moroccan food, from what I understand.”
Hakimi, who previously played alongside Mbappe at Paris Saint-Germain, also revealed that the French captain is confident about Morocco’s chances at the tournament. While acknowledging the quality of other contenders, Mbappe reportedly views the Atlas Lions as serious title hopefuls.
“He said we are candidates to win this AFCON, but there are also many other strong teams,” Hakimi added.
Morocco are widely regarded as one of the favourites for the 2025 AFCON, following their recent strong performances on the continental and global stages.