Morocco skipper Achraf Hakimi faces a race against time to be ready for next month's Africa Cup of Nations after going off injured during Paris Saint-Germain's Champions League clash with Bayern Munich.
Bayern striker Luis Diaz scythed down Hakimi at the end of the first-half at the Parc des Princes on Tuesday night.
The 28-year-old Colombian was initially handed a yellow card. But as Hakimi remained writhing on the deck, video assistant referees recommended more severe punishment for the forward who had scored both of his side's goals.
He was dismissed for the challenge.
In his absence, Bayern managed to fend off PSG's second-half rally to end the game 2-1 and maintain their perfect record in the group stages of this season's tournament.
On Wednesday night, PSG medics said Hakimi was suffering from a severe sprain in his left ankle.
Teammate Ousmane Dembélé, who left the field 25 minutes into the encounter, had an injury to his left calf. "He will remain under treatment in the coming weeks," added a club statement.
The injuries to two key players from last season's quadruple-winning team are a further setback to Luis Enrique's ambitions to maintain his side's domestic and European ascendancy.
The 55-year-old Spaniard is already missing the services of Désiré Doué who is sidelined for several more weeks with a right thigh muscle injury. And defender Nuno Mendes was added to the sick list on Tuesday night with a sprained left knee.
Morocco beats Madagascar to seize third African Nations Championship title
Hakimi, who took over as Morocco captain at the end of 2024, is expected to be one of the faces of the Africa Cup of Nations which starts on 21 December with a match between the hosts and Comoros.
Morocco, who were eliminated in the last-16 at the last Africa Cup of Nations in Cote d'Ivoire, are among the favourites to win the tournament which will be played against the backdrop of Gen Z-led protests throughout the country.
The estimated €2 billion cost of revamping stadiums for the Cup of Nations and the 2030 World Cup, which Morocco is co-hosting with Spain and Portugal, has been a particular bone of contention. Demonstrators say the money should have been spent instead on public services such as education and healthcare.
Twenty-four teams will compete until 18 January 2026 to succeed Cote d'Ivoire as African champions.
