Achraf Hakimi expressed his joy at being back on the pitch after coming off the bench in Morocco’s 3-0 victory over Zambia in their final AFCON 2025 group match.
The captain, after the game said he was delighted with the collective performance and insisted that the teamwork and togetherness on display are the real secrets behind Morocco’s impressive form.
Hakimi thanked the Moroccan fans for their constant support from the stands, stressing that maintaining the same spirit will be vital for the rest of the tournament. He also said he feels relieved to have fully overcome his recent injury issues, noting that the first goal of topping the group has been achieved and that full focus now turns to the knockout rounds.
El Kaabi opened the scoring with a diving header in the ninth minute, with Real Madrid playmaker Brahim Diaz sweeping home to make it 2-0 before the half-hour mark.
A stunning El Kaabi bicycle kick was initially ruled out in the 50th minute, but VAR confirmed he had beaten the offside trap to meet Abde Ezzalzouli’s cross, as Morocco sealed top spot in Group A and a last-16 tie against one of the best third-placed teams on January 4.
