Achraf Hakimi, the 25-year-old Paris Saint-Germain right-back, expressed his sentiments on social media, addressing the heartbreak following his crucial penalty miss.
The Atlas Lions faced an unexpected defeat against South Africa with a scoreline of 2-0, marking the end of their AFCON 2023 journey.
The defining moment occurred in the 85th minute when Hakimi had the opportunity to equalize through a penalty but unfortunately struck the crossbar.
Taking to social networks to communicate with fans and teammates, Hakimi expressed remorse, saying, “I would like to apologize for the penalty, I took the responsibility to help the team, but unfortunately it did not work.”
Despite the evident disappointment, Hakimi also extended heartfelt admiration to teammate Amine Adli, highlighting the latter’s resilience and commitment to the national cause despite personal challenges, including the recent loss of his mother.
Hakimi conveyed, “And what can I say about you my brother, Amine Adli. After everything you went through, you came and gave everything for your country, we are so proud of you! I love you very much, my brother. Dima Maghrib!”
Morocco’s coach also chimed in after the match, offering words of reassurance to Hakimi. He remarked, “The penalty happens, it’s football. Achraf would perhaps have allowed us to get back into the match, but afterwards, at the end, when we look at the situations at the end, the way we gave up, it didn’t reflect our team.”
As the favored team entering the competition, Morocco’s premature exit leaves a sense of frustration among fans, with Hakimi’s missed penalty becoming a poignant moment etched in the memories of Moroccan football enthusiasts.
Aujourd’hui est un jour très difficile et triste pour notre élimination. Je tiens à m’excuser pour le penalty, j’ai pris la responsabilité d’aider l’équipe, mais malheureusement cela n’a pas fonctionné. Je tiens à remercier tout le peuple marocain pour son soutien, en particulier… pic.twitter.com/Q9IP5FMYXY
— Achraf Hakimi (@AchrafHakimi) January 31, 2024
