Morocco head coach Walid Regragui on Saturday declared that skipper Achraf Hakimi was fit and ready to lead the squad to glory at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.
Hakimi, 27, was injured on 4 November while playing for his club side Paris Saint-Germain against Bayern Munich in the Champions League.
Medical tests showed there was a severe sprain on his left ankle after Luis Diaz tackled him towards the end of the first-half at the Parc des Princes.
Hailing Hakimi's race to return to fitness, Regragui said he might not risk the player for the opening match against Comoros at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat on Sunday night.
"Tomorrow will be my decision," said the 50-year-old former Morocco international.
"But he has more than done his job. His injury was not an easy one.
"I still have another night to sleep and decide whether he starts or whether we protect him and see how it goes for the remaining games. He is able to start, but he might not start."
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Morocco go into the 24-team tournament on the back of an 18-match winning streak and enjoying the kudos of being Africa's top side in the Fifa rankings.
"I feel good. I am following the programme given to me by the medical staff and the coach," said Hakimi who has collected the Confederation of African Football's 2025 African Player of the Year award during his convalescence.
Regragui added: "Achraf has made sacrifices over the last four or five weeks that nobody else could have made, and has set an example to the other players and the staff.
"Today we can see that the protocol we put in place after his injury has been more than positive but now we have the whole competition to manage."
Morocco are seeking a second continental title since the inception of the Cup of Nations in 1957. They will also face Mali and Zambia in Group A.
The top two from each of the six pools advance to the last-16 knockout stages along with the four best third-placed teams.
The final will be held at the same venue as the opening match on 18 January.
