In a 2026 FIFA World Cup group-stage match, Morocco’s defender Achraf Hakimi complimented his team’s tenacity after they rallied twice to defeat Haiti 4-2.
The fierce Haitian team startled the Atlas Lions early on and forced them to dig deep. After ten minutes, Yassine Bounou’s own goal gave Haiti the lead and was Les Grenadiers’ first World Cup goal in fifty-two years.
After goalkeeper Johny Placide blocked an effort from Bilal El Khannouss, Morocco answered in the 39th minute when Hakimi bundled the ball across the line. But just four minutes later, Isidor’s outstanding effort gave Haiti the lead again.
Refusing to give up, the North Africans pulled level once more in stoppage time during the first half. Hakimi set up a move that Ismael Saibari completed to tie the score at two.
After the break, Morocco took the lead thanks to goals from Soufiane Rahimi and Yassine Gessime, securing momentum for the knockout stage.
Hakimi said that Haiti forced Morocco to the limit despite the victory.
It was a challenging and complex game. We didn’t get off to a good start, but we adjusted our perspective and put a lot of effort into getting back into it. FIFA.com cited Hakimi as saying, “We were able to win because of the way we attacked.”
“The advice at halftime was to continue concentrating on winning the second balls. We had to stop them from becoming more self-assured. Although we’re proud of what we accomplished, we now need to heal properly and prepare for the future.
As the Atlas Lions continue their pursuit of World Cup gold, Hakimi says the attention has already switched to the challenges ahead. The victory ensured Morocco concluded their group campaign on a good note.
