Morocco’s dream of reaching the last four of the 2026 FIFA World Cup ended with a disappointing 2-0 defeat to France in the quarter-finals. Hoping to avenge their semi-final loss in Qatar, the Atlas Lions instead produced a flat display and rarely threatened Didier Deschamps’ side.
Captain Achraf Hakimi, usually one of Morocco’s standout performers, struggled throughout the match and quickly became one of the main targets of criticism.
Hakimi spent most of the game dealing with Désiré Doué’s attacks instead of making his usual impact in the final third. The Paris Saint-Germain full-back lost possession 15 times, the second-highest total among Moroccan players, and failed to create danger from open play or set pieces. He also lost the duel that led to the penalty awarded to France, although Kylian Mbappé failed to convert. After the match, coach Mohamed Ouahbi admitted that Morocco lacked ideas, failed to stretch France’s defense, and never found the solutions needed to stay alive in the competition.
The criticism did not stop with Hakimi’s performance. Several Moroccan supporters also questioned his attitude after the final whistle when cameras showed him smiling and chatting with his PSG teammates despite the painful elimination. While such scenes are common between club teammates, many fans felt the captain should have shown more disappointment after Morocco’s exit from the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
