Heartbroken AFCON Star Breaks Silence After Egypt Defeat At Quarter Final Stage

Heartbroken AFCON Star Breaks Silence After Egypt Defeat At Quarter Final Stage

Lukman Mumuni
updated at April 12, 2023 at 7:55 PM
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CAF Africa Cup of Nations logo
CAF AFCON
Africa
  • Morocco star Achraf Hakimi has reacted to the Atlas Lions' defeat to North African rivals Egypt at the quarter finals stage of AFCON
  • The right-back has urged his teammates and country to put the defeat behind them while they look forward to the World Cup qualifiers play-offs
  • Morocco have been drawn against the Democratic Republic of Congo in the final round of World Cup qualifiers

Achraf Hakimi, Morocco's brightest spot at the Africa Cup of Nations, has finally spoken after his side's elimination from the tournament in Egypt.

Morocco threw away a seventh minute lead to lose 2-1 in extra time to North Africans rivals Egypt in the quarter finals.

Despite the disappointment, the young full-back has rallied support from Moroccans and insists they will make up by qualifying for the World Cup.

Achraf Hakimi at the Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon. SOURCE: Twitter/ @AchrafHakimi
Hakimi urges Moroccans to support the Atlas Lions ahead of the World Cup qualifiers. SOURCE: Twitter/ @AchrafHakimi
Source: Twitter
"Very proud of the team's fight in the African Cup. It's hard to be eliminated like that, but we will continue fighting as always to achieve great goals with our national team. Now more than ever we need your support to qualify for the World Cup Qatar in March," the Paris Saint Germain player wrote on Twitter.

Hakimi excelled at the tournament, scoring two sensational freekick as Morocco made it to the last eight.

And in the quarter finals against Egypt, he won the penalty which was converted by Sofian Boufal for the Atlas Lions.

Morocco dumped out of AFCON by Salah magic

Earlier, SportsBrief.com reported that, Egypt are through to the semi-final of the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations.

The Pharaohs sealed qualification to the last four after they stunned Morocco 2-1 in the quarter-finals on Sunday, January 30, in Yaounde.

Egypt set up a north African derby with the Atlas Lions after overcoming a gruelling clash with the Ivory Coast in the last 16.

Kylian Mbappe names Achraf Hakimi as best right-back in the world

Paris Saint Germain superstar, Kylian Mbappe, has named his teammate Achraf Hakimi as the best right-back in world football at the moment.

Achraf Hakimi is having a fantastic Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon, and last night scored the winner as Morocco progressed to the last eight of the tournament.

Mbappe, who was watching the competition, quickly took to Social Media to react after seeing Hakimi whip in a spectacular freekick to give the Atlas Lions the lead against Malawi.

Authors
Lukman Mumuni photo
Lukman Mumuni
Lukman Abdul Mumin is a Sports Journalist based in Accra, Ghana. He has been writing for the past five years. Lukman joined Sports Brief as an Editor for the Local Desk in 2022.