Former Nigeria international Garba Lawal has shared his worries that the rape claims against Morocco captain Achraf Hakimi and Ghana midfielder Thomas Partey might distract both teams at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. He called for patience as the legal matters in both cases unfold, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
Hakimi, who led Morocco against Scotland in their group match, is facing a trial in France over accusations that he raped a woman at his home in Paris in 2023. The Paris Saint-Germain defender has always denied these claims, and French media reports say he recently lost an appeal to have the case thrown out.
Lawal pointed out that the timing of these legal issues during a major tournament is very unhelpful for the player.
"I just can’t understand why it is coming up at this stage and it could be a distraction to him. If someone is playing in the World Cup, leave him alone until after the tournament, you can bring it up. Nobody knows the full truth of the story, but he has a chance to clear his name, so let’s wait and see what really happened," he said.
The former Super Eagles midfielder did not ignore the seriousness of the claims, though.
"I hope the allegation is not true anyway, because if it is, it’s disgusting. It’s always ‘rape, rape, rape’, I don’t understand why footballers are constantly facing these allegations," Lawal said.
Partey’s case is an even bigger challenge for Ghana. He missed the Black Stars’ first World Cup match against Panama after reportedly being unable to enter Canada due to his legal troubles. Lawal recognized the challenge this poses for the team but said they must find a way to adapt.
"Of course, it’s a distraction to any team, but the team should cope without Partey. They once had players like Abedi Pele and Michael Essien, and they managed after their retirement. However, this situation is different because this player is currently part of the squad. Right now, it’s World Cup time. Looking at the whole situation, the allegations are very troubling," he said.
On the burden now on the rest of the Ghana squad, Lawal added, "It’s a difficult situation because the plans have already been made around the team. Now it depends on the players to come together, step up, and perform in his absence if necessary."
The former Nigerian international used this moment to call for more discipline among African footballers outside the pitch. He mentioned the story of former Manchester City defender Benjamin Mendy, who was found not guilty after a long trial but saw his career suffer greatly during that time.
"Look at Benjamin Mendy. In the end, it was said that mistakes had been made, but by then his career had already been damaged. Manchester City had moved on, and things were never the same. He was a fantastic player, and look at how his career ended. Even if you compensate someone afterward, the damage has already been done," Lawal said.
"It’s very sad. I don’t know why African players so often find themselves in these kinds of situations. You must be disciplined both on and off the field. Discipline is everything. Don’t give anyone an inch, because if you do, people can take a mile. If you live a disciplined life, then even when allegations arise, people will be more likely to defend your character," he added.
Morocco has started the tournament well with four points from two matches, while Ghana won against Panama in their opening game.
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