Morocco captain Achraf Hakimi to stand trial for rape

Morocco captain Achraf Hakimi will stand trial for rape, French prosecutors have confirmed. A woman accused the Paris St-Germain defender of raping her at his home in the French capital in 2023, when she was aged 24. The public prosecutor's office in Nanterre, a western suburb of Paris, began a preliminary investigation in March 2023. An investigating judge ordered a trial in February 2026 and French media report that Hakimi, 27, failed with a recent appeal to have the trial dismissed. Hakimi, who is set to lead his side out for their second World Cup fixture against Scotland on Friday (23:00 BST), has consistently denied the accusations. "The justice system looked me in the eye and said, 'If you weren't famous, there would never have been a case,'" Hakimi wrote on social media on Friday. "I chose to remain silent for years. I believed that maintaining my dignity, being patient, and trusting in the justice system would allow the right decisions to be made. "Today, a story that isn't mine is being told at the expense of my family, my life, and above all, the truth. I sometimes feel like I've become an easy target. "I've been waiting for this trial since day one. And now I'm eagerly awaiting it. …