World Cup 2026: Achraf Hakimi dedicates win to Africa after Morocco’s penalty shootout win over Netherlands

Morocco captain Achraf Hakimi has dedicated his side’s dramatic FIFA World Cup Round of 32 victory over the Netherlands to the entire African continent, saying the Atlas Lions are carrying the hopes of African football at the tournament.

Morocco booked their place in the Round of 16 after edging the Netherlands in a tense penalty shootout following a hard-fought contest in the knockout stage of the ongoing 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Speaking after the victory, Hakimi paid tribute to the unwavering support from Moroccan fans while acknowledging the backing his team received from supporters across Africa and even from Mexican fans inside the stadium.

“We represent African football, and we play for them. We thank all the fans for their support always. We play for them. We saw a lot of Mexicans in the stadium supporting us too; we thank them,” Hakimi said.

The Paris Saint-Germain defender’s comments reflect Morocco’s growing status as one of Africa’s leading football nations following their historic performances on the global stage in recent years.

The Atlas Lions once again demonstrated resilience and composure under pressure, holding their nerve in the penalty shootout to eliminate the Dutch and continue their impressive World Cup campaign.

Hakimi’s message is likely to resonate across the continent, with Morocco now carrying African hopes into the next phase of the competition as they seek another memorable run on the world stage.

Morocco’s reward for their victory is a Round of 16 showdown against Canada, with a place in the quarter-finals at stake. The North Africans will be aiming to build on their momentum and continue flying the flag for Africa in what has already been an impressive World Cup campaign.