Achraf Hakimi has spoken of his deep satisfaction after captaining Morocco to their historic 2025 Africa Cup of Nations triumph, describing the moment as the fulfilment of a long-held ambition with the Atlas Lions.
The Morocco defender shared his emotions during an appearance on “The Bridge” podcast alongside Kylian Mbappé and Aurélien Tchouaméni, reflecting on a title win that arrived under highly unusual circumstances but still carried immense personal meaning.
“We are very happy. I have been waiting for this moment for a long time⦠even if the victory came this way⦠we won,” Hakimi said.
Morocco were ultimately declared champions following a controversial decision by the Confederation of African Football Appeal Board, which ruled that Senegal’s walk-off during the final constituted a forfeit.
Under competition regulations, such an action results in a 3-0 defeat, effectively handing the title to Morocco and closing one of the most contentious chapters in recent African football history.
As captain, Hakimi’s leadership proved central to Morocco’s campaign, with the Paris Saint-Germain full-back emerging as both a vocal figure in the dressing room and a consistent performer on the pitch.
His journey to this moment also carried an added layer of personal significance, having previously faced a career-defining decision over his international allegiance.
Born and raised in Spain, Hakimi opted to represent Morocco at senior level, a choice he revisited during the podcast as part of a broader reflection on identity and belonging in modern football.
The episode also touched on wider issues within the game, with Mbappé recounting the racist abuse he suffered after missing a decisive penalty for France at the delayed UEFA Euro 2020.
The forward described the emotional toll of the incident, highlighting the persistence of discrimination at the highest level.