Morocco's football fans displayed unwavering support for Paris Saint Germain's Achraf Hakimi despite his crucial penalty miss in the match against South Africa that led to their exit from the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) according to Sport brief.
The former Real Madrid right-back had an opportunity to equalize in the final minutes but missed, contributing to the Bafana Bafana's 2-0 victory.
In a video circulating on social media, Moroccan supporters were captured chanting Hakimi's name, showing solidarity with the visibly distressed player.
Despite the disappointment, the fans expressed empathy for Hakimi's challenging moment on the field.
South Africa secured the win with Evidence Makgopa opening the scoring in the 57th minute, followed by Teboho Mokoena's late freekick.
The defeat ended Morocco's quest for the AFCON title, and they will now anticipate the 2025 edition to attempt ending their 48-year wait for the prestigious trophy.
With Morocco's elimination, none of the top five African teams in the rankings advanced beyond the Round of 16 in the current tournament in Cote d'Ivoire.
The unexpected outcome adds an element of surprise to AFCON 2023, as powerhouse teams face unexpected challenges.
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