Achraf Hakimi Warns Spain Ahead Of World Cup Round Of 16 Clash

Morocco international Achraf Hakimi has sent a warning to Spain ahead of their 2022 FIFA World Cup Round of 16 clash saying that their opponents should be afraid of his team.

Walid Regragui’s men went through as Group F winners ahead of Croatia and Belgium, and they face Spain who ended up in second place  in their group after a shock defeat to Japan.

Hakimi, who was born and raised in Spain to Moroccan parents, said: “We were first in the group, and I think we already deserve a little respect. I think Spain knows it, and they’ve to be a little afraid of us.

[perfectpullquote align=”full” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]”They have to be afraid of us, the truth. And why not give the surprise again?”[/perfectpullquote]

He continued: “The coach has transmitted a winning mentality to us, and it doesn’t matter who comes, we’ve to play our game,”.

Hakimi was in the Moroccan side that almost beat Spain in 2018 World Cup in Russia where they narrowly lost to an injury-minute equalizer in a 2-2 draw.

The full-back will earn his 58^th cap for Morocco having made his full international debut in October 2016 in Atlas Lions’ 4-0 win over Canada.

Morocco are in the knockout stages for just the second time in 36 years and they remain the only African nation remaining in the tournament. Cameroon, Tunisia, Ghana, and most recently Senegal have already been eliminated from the tournament.