• Achraf Hakimi will stand trial on a rape charge in France.
• The Versailles appeals court has confirmed his trial after rejecting his appeal.
• Hakimi denies the allegations and seeks to present his side of the story.
• The incident reportedly occurred at his home in 2023.
• The timeline for the trial's commencement is yet to be announced.

Achraf Hakimi, the captain of Morocco’s national football team and defender for Paris Saint-Germain, will face trial for a rape charge, confirmed by a French court of appeals. Hakimi expressed his desire to have his voice heard, stating, “I’ve been waiting for this trial since day one. And now I’m looking forward to it” on social media after the ruling was announced according to Reuters, Al Jazeera, and Africa News.

The allegations claim Hakimi raped a woman at his home in 2023. The plaintiff alleged that Hakimi engaged in non-consensual acts, urging that she felt relief upon learning of the trial proceeding to hear her case. The timeline for when the trial will start remains unclear, as both the Versailles appeals court and Hakimi's legal counsel have not responded to media inquiries about the case according to Reuters, Al Jazeera, and Africa News.

Hakimi has denied any wrongdoing, insisting he is anxious to present his defense. His lawyer noted the decision to move forward with the trial was anticipated, reinforcing Hakimi's confidence in asserting his innocence in the face of the allegations. The case was initiated after a woman accused him of assaulting her following their interaction on social media before the claims were made according to Reuters, Al Jazeera, and Africa News.