Moroccan player, Ashraf Hakimi, has confirmed that his country’s soccer team will come back stronger in upcoming competitions to give its fans “happier moments” after the “Atlas Lions” achieved a historic result in the World Cup in Qatar.
The Moroccan national team, led by its coach, Walid Rekragui, achieved what African and Arab teams had failed to achieve since the inaugural World Cup in 1930, and became the first to reach the semi-finals of the World Cup and he came out with his head held high and with an historic fourth place.
Hakimi said, inside Tweet: “The culmination of a unique experience we had in Qatar, thanks to which we achieved an historic fourth place as the best result for an Arab and African team in the history of the World Cup. We are proud of what we have achieved.”
The culmination of a unique experience in Qatar, thanks to which we achieved a historic fourth place as the best result for an Arab and African team in the history of the World Cup. We are proud of what we have achieved.
1/2 pic.twitter.com/wqHdXgkRt5
-Achraf Hakimi (@AchrafHakimi) December 19, 2022
The Paris Saint-Germain Pavilion added: “Thank you to the Moroccan people, to all the Arabs and Africans, and to the people of the world who have supported us during this World Cup. We will come back stronger in the next competitions to give you happier times. Thank you from the heart. Dima Morocco…”.
Morocco spelled its name in gold in the first edition across the Middle East and Arab world, with achievements that will remain immortal for several years, if not decades, as it reached the semi-finals.
Morocco missed the first round, for the first time since 1986, in a strong sixth group, in which they forced last season’s runners-up Croatia to a goalless draw and beat third-placed Belgium 2-0, then Canada 2-1, going on to overthrow 2010 champions Spain from the final price. On penalties, leading to the elimination of Portugal and its stars, led by Cristiano Ronaldo, 1-0 in the quarter-finals.
The “Atlas Lions” did well in front of the most powerful international teams, before their dream ended with a defeat against France, holders in 2018 and runners-up of the current edition.
The “Atlas Lions” sixth participation in the World Cup was a success by all standards, and were one of three teams that collected seven points in the first round (with the Netherlands and England), and achieved two victories streak in the World Cup for the first time in their history, and for the time they also achieved three victories in one copy, the first also after settling for two victories in five poles.
Morocco and his coach have attracted attention with his magical “family” and collective and fighting spirit since the beginning of the tournament, which contributed greatly to his passage round after round, before paying the price for the injuries that they hit him on the penultimate exam.
Regragui, who wanted the presence of the parents of the players so that the family spirit prevails on and off the pitch, commented: “We have learned a lot from this experience. We are not far away (from the big teams). We have lost because of small details. “
He added: “I think we are among the best generation in Africa, but we are not the best. I have told the players that they have to win the African Cup of Nations to be the best in the continent. Before you are king in the world, you have to be king in the your home”.
