Despite Paris Saint-Germain’s Achraf Hakimi’s crucial penalty miss leading to Morocco’s exit from the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), the country’s football fans displayed steadfast support for the former Real Madrid right-back, as reported by Sport Brief.
Hakimi had an opportunity to level the score in the final minutes of the match against South Africa but missed, contributing to Bafana Bafana’s 2-0 victory.
In a video circulating on social media, Moroccan supporters were seen chanting Hakimi’s name, demonstrating solidarity with the visibly distressed player. Despite the disappointment, the fans expressed empathy for Hakimi’s challenging moment on the field.
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South Africa secured the win with Evidence Makgopa opening the scoring in the 57th minute, followed by Teboho Mokoena’s late free-kick.
The defeat marked the end of Morocco’s pursuit of the AFCON title, and they will now look forward to the 2025 edition to attempt ending their 48-year wait for the prestigious trophy.
With Morocco’s elimination, none of the top five African teams in the rankings advanced beyond the Round of 16 in the current tournament in Cote d’Ivoire. The unexpected outcome adds an element of surprise to AFCON 2023, as powerhouse teams face unexpected challenges.