Involved in all five PSG goals at Le Havre (5-1), Achraf Hakimi recounts with humour the misunderstanding with Luis Enrique over his first goal, initially ruled out then awarded by VAR.
Three goals, two assists: at Le Havre on Friday, Achraf Hakimi did a bit of everything. The Morocco international full-back was involved in all five Paris Saint-Germain goals in the 5-1 win, according to Sport.fr. A full evening for the 27-year-old, who also raised a smile afterwards.
Because his first goal was initially disallowed for offside, before being awarded by VAR. In the meantime, Hakimi turned to the assistant referee to ask whether he had really seen the offside position; the official replied that he thought so, Sport.fr reports. The scene took on a very different complexion on the Paris bench.
The coach thought he was protesting
Luis Enrique, the Paris Saint-Germain coach, thought his full-back was about to protest to the referee and pulled him up on it, according to Sport.fr. A reading the player himself was keen to correct.
“I carried on joking with him, but the coach thought I was complaining!”, Achraf Hakimi told Sport.fr. His words put the exchange back on the level of mockery rather than protest.
PSG still out in front
PSG remain top of Ligue 1 with a three-point lead over Paris FC after ten matchdays, according to Onze Mondial. The Moroccan’s hat-trick fits into this start to the season in which the Paris club stay top.
Hakimi himself is rated “in form” by Sport News Africa’s Atlas Lions barometer, among five Morocco internationals singled out before the match against Niger. He is also the reigning African Player of the Year and is among the nominees for the 2026 CAF Awards.
Next up Niger, then Rabat
The full-back now rejoins the national team for the CAN 2027 qualifiers. Morocco face Niger on Friday 13 November at 20:00 GMT, then Niger-Morocco is played on Tuesday 17 November in Rabat.
The two matches come before the 2026 CAF Awards ceremony, scheduled for Lagos on 2 December, where Hakimi defends his title.