Champions League and CAN bring opposite nights for Achraf Hakimi and Mamadou Sarr | OneFootball

Achraf Hakimi and Mamadou Sarr endured starkly different nights, on and off the pitch. PSG won 3-0 at Chelsea in the Champions League last-16 second leg at Stamford Bridge, then the Africa Cup of Nations confirmed Morocco as champions over Senegal.

The night began badly for Sarr, culpable in the sixth minute for the opener scored by Khvitcha Kvaratskhelia. Hakimi, picked by Luis Enrique, then set up Bradley Barcola in the 14th minute.

Sarr was deployed at right-back by Blues head coach Liam Rosenior despite having never played there, and he looked uncomfortable. He was withdrawn at half-time. Match ratings reflected the contrast, Hakimi 6/10 on Tuesday, Sarr 2/10.

After the final whistle, the Africa Cup of Nations confirmed Morocco as winners against Senegal. Hakimi learned he had finally lifted the trophy despite January’s 1-0 defeat after extra time in Rabat.

The ruling pleased one and disappointed two, the Parisian Ibrahim Mbaye, who featured in the 77th minute of that final but stayed on the bench at Chelsea, and above all Sarr, who discovered he was no longer African champion.

Back on 18 January, Sarr had started his fourth cap in central defence to cover the suspended Kalidou Koulibaly, producing a superb tackle to prevent a Moroccan opener and earning 7/10 as Senegal took the trophy. Hakimi, rated 5/10, did not play badly but lost a final on home soil.

Source: L'Équipe