Achraf Hakimi, the 27-year-old Paris Saint-Germain and Morocco right-back, spoke to beIN SPORTS after securing a spot in the 2026 World Cup Round of 16 via a penalty shootout against the Netherlands (1–1, 2–3 on penalties).
Hakimi: “We were well-prepared physically; we knew it would be tough. Mentally, too.”
An absolutely crazy match?
It was very difficult; we knew who we were up against. We were well-prepared physically; we knew it would be tough. Mentally, too. We stayed focused until the end, and you could really feel the mentality of this team. We’re proud of the win.
Did you ever have any doubts?
No, we knew—we’ve shown our character before, like against Haiti. We stayed calm; we knew the moment would come. Issa stepped up with that header—he deserves it, and we’re proud.
Hakimi: “A lot of people thought what happened in Qatar was just luck.”
Is Morocco officially a major footballing nation now?
Just as you say. A lot of people thought what happened in Qatar was just luck. We stayed focused; hard work pays off. We also had to remain humble—we’ve done that from the start, and we’re going to keep doing it.
