The strong bond between his close friend Kylian Mbappe and the North African country has been emphasized by Moroccan defender Achraf Hakimi.

The Real Madrid forward went to the capital of Morocco to cheer on his former Paris Saint-Germain teammate Hakimi during the Atlas Lions’ Group A match against Mali on Friday in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.

In reference to the trip, Hakimi revealed that Mbappe truly loves the nation and has been taking in the local vibe.

Hakimi said: “Kylian Mbappe really loves Morocco. He’s enjoying our country. He’s enjoying Moroccan food, from what I understand.”

In addition, the 27-year-old also shared his thoughts on AFCON, and while he is confident in Morocco’s quality to go the distance, Mbappe remained optimistic about the Atlas Lions’ chances of winning the competition.

“He said we’re a candidate to win this AFCON, but there are also a lot of others,” Hakimi added.