Morocco defender Achraf Hakimi praised his side’s resilience after they battled back twice to secure a 4-2 victory over Haiti in a 2026 FIFA World Cup group-stage encounter.
Early Setbacks and Haiti’s Surprise Lead
The Atlas Lions were forced to dig deep against a spirited Haiti side that stunned them early on. An own goal from goalkeeper Yassine Bounou after just ten minutes handed Haiti the lead, marking Les Grenadiers’ first World Cup goal in 52 years.
Morocco’s First Response
Morocco responded in the 39th minute when Hakimi bundled the ball over the line after goalkeeper Johny Placide had pushed away a strike from Bilal El Khannouss. Haiti, however, restored their advantage just four minutes later through a brilliant effort from Isidor.
Halftime Equality and Second‑Half Dominance
The North Africans refused to back down and drew level again in first‑half stoppage time. Ismael Saibari finished off a move created by Hakimi to send the sides into the break level at 2‑2.
After the restart, Morocco took control. Soufiane Rahimi and Yassine Gessime found the net to complete a crucial win and secure momentum heading into the knockout phase.
Hakimi’s Post‑Match Reaction
Despite the win, Hakimi admitted Haiti pushed Morocco all the way.
“It was a tricky game, a difficult one. We didn’t start well, but we changed our mindset and worked hard to get ourselves back into it. We managed to win thanks to the way we attacked,” Hakimi was quoted as saying by FIFA.com.
“At half‑time, the message was to stay focused on winning the second balls. We couldn’t let them grow in confidence. We’re proud of what we did, but now we need to recover well and get ourselves ready for what’s, the message was to stay focused on winning the second balls. We couldn’t let them grow in confidence. We’re proud of what we did let them grow in confidence. We’re proud of what we did, but now we need to recover well and get ourselves ready for what’s next.”
The victory ensured Morocco finished their group campaign on a high, with Hakimi insisting the focus has already shifted to the challenges ahead as the Atlas Lions continue their quest for World Cup glory.
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