Moroccan player Achraf Hakimi wanted to apologize to the Moroccan sporting public, following the early elimination of Morocco from AFCON 2023.

While trailing (1-0) by South Africa in the round of 16 of AFCON 2023, Morocco obtained a penalty in the 81th minute. Aware of the stakes of this match and the pressure weighing on the team, Achraf Hakimi took responsibility for taking this penalty.

Unfortunately, the Paris Saint Germain right winger missed this penalty which would allow Morocco to come back into the score. They will be eliminated at the end of the match (2-0).

A day after this defeat, Achraf Hakimi apologized to all the Moroccan people:

“Today is a very difficult and sad day for our elimination. I would like to apologize for the penalty, I took responsibility to help the team, but unfortunately it didn’t work. I would like to thank all the Moroccan people for their support, especially all the people who came to Ivory Coast. We will get up and come back stronger for the future! Insha’Allah! “, the player wrote on X.

“Good luck to the South African national team for the rest of the competition,” he added.