Achrat Hakimi is leading Morocco to make Africa proud at the 2026 World Cup after securing a famous 1-1 draw against Brazil on Saturday.
African representative, South Africa started the tournament with a defeat to one of the host countries, Mexico. Bafana Bafana suffered a 2-0 loss with goals from Raul Jimenez and Julian Quinones, capping a miserable night by ending the match with nine men. Captain of the side, Ronwell Williams claimed that their defeat was as a result of the failure of Africans to support his side.
Hakimi had earlier praised his side as the best team in Africa, considering the feat recorded at the 2022 World Cup, where the team reached the semi- finals of the mundial, losing to Croatia and ended the tournament as the fourth best team in the World.
“In Africa, we are called the Brazilians of Africa,” Hakimi said before his side’s encounter against the Samba Boys.
Morocco, currently ranked as the seventh best team in the world, according to the recently released FIFA rankings and the best team in Africa, took the game to Carlo Ancelotti’s men, scoring a beauty in the 21st minute through Ismael Saibari, who loped the ball over Alison Becker.
The strike sent many Africans into wide jubilations while an astonishing silence was felt in the Brazilian camp. Although the Samba Boys managed to equalise after Vinicius Junior curled home from a close range, the draw was like a win for many Africans against the five times champions.
The result means Morocco are behind Scotland after the European side defeated Haiti in their opening game and will take on Haiti in their next match on Wednesday.
The Atlas Lions will be expected to continue to make Africans proud at the tournament and could superse the level they reached at the 2022 edition.
