France captain Kylian Mbappe has arrived in Rabat, Morocco, ahead of the AFCON 2025 Group A match between hosts Morocco and Mali scheduled for Friday.
Mbappe is in the country at the invitation of his close friend and Morocco international, Achraf Hakimi, and is expected to watch the game at the stadium.
The pair previously played together at Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) for three seasons, after Hakimi joined the club from Inter Milan in July 2021.
Their partnership ended in 2024 when Mbappe left PSG for Real Madrid, but both players have remained close friends.
Hakimi is currently sidelined with an injury, though Moroccan fans hope he will recover in time to feature later in the tournament.
Morocco, coached by Walid Regragui, are among the favourites to win the competition on home soil. A victory over Mali would secure their qualification for the next round following their opening win against Comoros.
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