Morocco head coach Mohamed Ouahbi has reiterated that his squad stands firmly behind captain Achraf Hakimi after a French appeals court confirmed the Paris Saint-Germain star will face trial in a rape case.

Hakimi, who maintains his innocence, was met with boos from sections of the Scottish supporters—known as the Tartan Army—each time he touched the ball during Morocco’s 1-0 victory over Scotland at the 2026 World Cup.

Despite the off-field controversy, Ouahbi described his defender as “very relaxed” and praised his performance on the pitch. “Did you see the game? I assume you did,” Ouahbi said. “Hakimi was outstanding, so we are calm, he is calm, and I think he played very well.”

The Moroccan full-back had previously appealed the investigative judge’s decision in February. In a social media post on Friday, he stated that he felt like “an easy target.”

Following the jeers from Scotland fans at Boston Stadium, Hakimi responded by encouraging Moroccan supporters to raise their voices and cheer more passionately during several corner kicks.

“He did an excellent job, so why discuss management?” Ouahbi continued. “He woke up, had breakfast like everyone else, stayed focused, played as part of the team, and wanted to perform strongly—and that’s exactly what he did. We fully support him. He’s very composed, and hopefully, he will prove that he is the best wingback in the world. This means a lot to me, the team, and the 44 million Moroccans cheering for us.”

The allegations against Hakimi date back to March 2023, when a 24-year-old woman accused him of raping her at his home in a Paris suburb, leading to preliminary charges being filed.

The Versailles appeals court ruled that there was sufficient evidence to formally charge Hakimi with rape, citing findings from the inquiry and judicial investigation as grounds for proceeding to trial.

Rachel-Flore Pardo, the lawyer representing the complainant, said her client felt “a sense of relief and hope” after more than three years of legal proceedings, while also criticising Hakimi’s defence team for allegedly defaming her client and “dragging her through the mud.”

In his social media statement, Hakimi wrote: “Justice looked me in the eyes and told me, ‘If you weren’t famous, there would never have been a case.’ I chose to remain silent for years, believing that patience, dignity, and faith in justice would ensure the right outcome. But now, a story that isn’t mine is being told at the expense of my family, my life, and the truth. I sometimes feel like an easy target. I’ve awaited the trial from day one, and now I wait impatiently because I will finally be able to speak.”

A date for the trial has not yet been determined.