Picture Credit: Twitter
Paris Saint Germain right-back Achraf Hakimi created history after scoring the winning penalty against Spain to help Morocco qualify for their first quarterfinal in the FIFA World Cup 2022. The Atlas Lions held a dynamic Spanish team to a 0-0 draw in extended extra time before winning the penalty shootout in stunning fashion.
But Hakimi’s gesture after the game won many hearts as the former Inter Milan full-back rushed to his mother in the stands to celebrate the victory. The video of this interaction has gone viral. The 24-year-old ran towards the crowd, climbed on a barricade and hugged his mother.
Watch the video here:
In the game, Achraf Hakimi had a passing accuracy of 74% along with one block, four clearances and nine recoveries. Along with the PSG full-back, the Atlas Lions’ keeper Yassine Bounou was a crucial cog in this victory. The Sevilla keeper made two crucial saves in the shootout and helped Morocco become the fourth African nation to clinch the quarterfinals spot.
After the game, Bounou talked about how the constant support of the Moroccan fans helped the team in difficult situations. He said, "We felt the support of our fans, be it in Morocco or any other country in the world, this gives us the impetus to give such a performance. When you're in the thick of it, you can't really realize what you've achieved, we need to remain focused but as time goes on, maybe we'll realize what we've just achieved."
