Rabat – Achraf Hakimi was named the official Man of the Match after leading Morocco to a 4-2 win over Haiti in their final Group C game at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The Morocco captain delivered one of his most influential performances of the tournament, scoring the Atlas Lions’ first goal and providing the assist for their second.
Hakimi was also Morocco’s most active attacking outlet, finishing the match with five shots and creating five chances for his teammates.
His performance helped Mohamed Ouahbi’s side recover after falling behind twice during a dramatic first half in Atlanta.
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Haiti stunned Morocco by taking the lead in the 10th minute, but Hakimi responded in the 39th minute.
Goalkeeper Johny Placide failed to deal cleanly with a cross into the penalty area, and Hakimi reacted quickest inside the six-yard box to force the loose ball over the line.
The goal brought Morocco level at 1-1 and gave the team renewed momentum after a difficult opening period.
Haiti restored their advantage four minutes later through Wilson Isidor’s powerful long-range strike, but Hakimi again played a decisive role before halftime.
In the first minute of stoppage time, the right-back advanced down the flank and delivered a low cross into the penalty area.
Brahim Diaz allowed the ball to run through to Ismael Saibari, who finished to make the score 2-2.
Hakimi, therefore, ended the first half with both a goal and an assist, directly contributing to Morocco’s recovery.
Morocco’s main creative threat
Hakimi continued to push forward throughout the second half, often operating more like a winger than a traditional right-back.
He provided width, combined with Morocco’s attacking midfielders and repeatedly moved into shooting positions around Haiti’s penalty area.
The Paris Saint-Germain defender attempted five shots during the match and created five scoring opportunities, the highest total by any Morocco player.
His attacking involvement reflected Morocco’s control of the game, with the Atlas Lions finishing with 22 attempts and 11 shots on target.
Hakimi also took responsibility from set pieces and came close to scoring again from a free kick in the second half, although both his initial effort and the rebound were blocked.
His five chances against Haiti took his career total to 20 chances created at the World Cup, more than any other Moroccan player in the competition’s history.
