Moroccan national team captain Achraf Hakimi broke his silence following his country’s loss to Senegal in the Africa Cup of Nations final, describing the days after the defeat as difficult and expressing pride in his teammates’ performance.
In a lengthy post on social media, Hakimi said the Moroccan squad gave everything during the tournament and carried the nation’s name with honor. He added that the team succeeded in bringing hope to millions of Moroccans both at home and abroad, despite the disappointment of missing out on the title.
Hakimi began his message by thanking King Mohammed VI, praising the monarch’s efforts in organizing what he described as the best edition of the Africa Cup of Nations in the tournament’s history, and highlighting the king’s ongoing support for Moroccan football. He also thanked Fouzi Lekjaa, president of the Royal Moroccan Football Federation, for his unwavering confidence and constant support throughout the competition.
The captain praised Moroccan fans as the “12th player,” saying their support was decisive during difficult moments when players were physically and mentally strained. He added that the team felt the backing of Moroccans across the world.
Hakimi also expressed gratitude to coach Walid Regragui and the technical staff, as well as his teammates, noting that the group spent 35 days of continuous work, discipline, sacrifice and unity. He described the experience as both a sporting and human journey that showed Morocco competes not only to win, but to inspire.
He emphasized that the defeat is not the end of the road but rather a strong foundation for the future, stating that Morocco has become a respected and admired team and that better days lie ahead if the same spirit and ambition are preserved.
Hakimi concluded his message with a message of hope, saying: “The future is promising, and Morocco will continue to move forward with its head held high… Dima Maghrib.”
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