Guadalupe, June 30 -- Morocco captain Achraf Hakimi, while speaking to host broadcasters, has said his side's thrilling victory over the Netherlands in the FIFA World Cup 2026 underlined the fact that team's historic run at the 2022 tournament was no coincidence, insisting the Atlas Lions have earned their place among the world's top footballing nations.

Morocco booked their place in the Round of 16 after defeating the Netherlands 3-2 in a penalty shootout following a 1-1 draw after extra time.

Addressing the host broadcaster after the match, Hakimi praised his teammates for overcoming both the physical and mental challenges posed by the contest.

"Yes, as I said, it was a complicated and extremely tough match. We knew who we were up ag...