World Cup 2026: Morocco captain Achraf Hakimi hails team mentality after Haiti victory

Morocco captain Achraf Hakimi has praised Morocco’s fighting spirit and mentality after the Atlas Lions secured qualification to the Round of 32 of the 2026 FIFA World Cup with an entertaining victory over Haiti.

The North African football heavyweight produced another impressive attacking display to defeat Haiti and continue their strong campaign at the tournament.

Despite eventually securing the victory, Hakimi admitted the match was far from straightforward and revealed Morocco had to rely heavily on their character and experience to overcome a difficult challenge.

“It was a tricky and difficult match for us,” Hakimi said after the game. “We didn’t start well, but we used our mentality to turn the game around. We are proud of our journey, but we will prepare well because the next match will be difficult.”

The Paris Saint-Germain defender acknowledged that Morocco struggled to find rhythm in the early stages as Haiti started aggressively and caused several problems with their energy and attacking transitions.

Haiti’s fearless approach unsettled the Moroccan defence at times, forcing the Atlas Lions to remain patient before gradually taking control of the contest.

However, Morocco’s quality eventually began to shine through as they responded strongly after a difficult opening period. Their composure in possession, movement in attack, and ability to remain calm under pressure allowed them to regain momentum and swing the match in their favour.

Hakimi’s comments reflected the mentality that has become a major strength of this Moroccan generation in recent years. Since their historic run to the semi-finals of the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, Morocco have continued to establish themselves as one of the elite football nations on the international stage.

The Atlas Lions have built a reputation for resilience, tactical discipline, and mental toughness — qualities that were once again evident in their victory over Haiti.

Throughout the group stage, Morocco consistently demonstrated balance between defensive organisation and attacking creativity. Their performances have impressed supporters across Africa and beyond, with many believing the team has the quality to make another deep run in the tournament.

Hakimi, one of the leaders of the squad, has played a crucial role both on and off the pitch. His experience at the highest level of European football continues to inspire the Moroccan side, while his energy and leadership have been instrumental during difficult moments.

The right-back also stressed the importance of remaining focused despite the excitement surrounding qualification to the knockout rounds.

While Morocco’s supporters are celebrating another major achievement, Hakimi made it clear that the players understand tougher tests lie ahead as the tournament enters its decisive stage.

“We are proud of our journey,” he added, “but we will prepare well because the next match will be difficult.”

The statement underlines Morocco’s growing maturity as a football nation. Rather than becoming distracted by praise or early success, the Atlas Lions remain fully focused on continuing their progress at the World Cup.

Morocco’s qualification to the Round of 32 further strengthens Africa’s presence in the tournament and keeps alive hopes of another historic run for an African nation on football’s biggest stage.

With confidence growing inside the squad and experienced players like Hakimi leading by example, Morocco will head into the knockout rounds believing they can compete with any team remaining in the competition.