As Morocco awaits clarity on Achraf Hakimi’s fitness for tonight’s clash with Mali, one thing is certain: Kylian Mbappé will be in the stands.
Local media have disclosed new details about the French star’s visit. Mbappé’s popularity in Morocco may now rival—even eclipse—that of Zinedine Zidane. His appearance on Wednesday at the Moulay Hassan Stadium, where he watched his son Luca make his AFCON debut for Algeria in a 3–0 win over Sudan, caused a media storm. But judging by the excitement he has sparked, his younger brother could draw even more attention tonight.
Reports confirm that the Real Madrid forward will attend the Morocco–Mali match (kick-off at 9:00 PM), the Atlas Lions’ second fixture of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations group stage. As expected, Mbappé will be backing Morocco and his close friend Achraf Hakimi, whose participation in the match remains in doubt.
There had been speculation that Mbappé would be joined by Ousmane Dembélé, but the Ballon d’Or winner was unable to make the trip due to prior commitments in Dubai, where he is set to attend the Globe Soccer Awards on Sunday.
According to the latest updates, Mbappé will attend the game with his parents and his younger brother Ethan, who also shares a strong bond with Hakimi. He is expected to stay in Morocco until Monday, December 29, when Real Madrid resume training, and may even attend additional AFCON matches during his stay—welcome news for Moroccan football fans.