Achraf Hakimi, captain and star of the Morocco national team, expressed pride in his team’s courage during Monday’s (29) thrilling victory over the Netherlands in the 32-team phase of the 2026 World Cup.
The North African team did not give up after Cody Gakpo scored for the Netherlands 26 minutes into the second half, managing to take the match into extra time with a dramatic equalizer from Issa Diop in stoppage time (46 minutes).
In the penalty shootout, Morocco was the first to waste a penalty, but recovered to secure a 3-2 victory in Monterrey, Mexico.
“We did it. It wasn’t easy. I’m very tired now, but very proud of the team,” said Hakimi. “We knew what kind of game it would be and who we were playing against.”
“We said a few days ago that we needed to stay focused and be strong, physically and mentally, as we didn’t know how long the match could last,” he recalled.
“So, we demonstrated great mental strength and managed to turn the score around,” said the Paris Saint-Germain full-back, who also thanked the fans in Monterrey.
“Thank you to Mexico for the support,” he declared.
