What a win for the Morocco football team! They scored 3-0 on penalties against Spain. Thanks to Ashraf Hakimi who scored the winning penalty, Morocco made it to the World cup quarter-finals.
Many already know this, but some might not. Hakimi was born and raised in Madrid, Spain! What a twist. A Spanish-born footballer scored a goal for Morocco against Spain.
Actually for everyone’s information, Hakimi’s parents are pure Moroccan. Nevertheless, the family moved to Spain to build a better life for themselves when Hakimi was still young. There, Hakimi’s father worked as a vendor on the streets. Hakimi’s mother worked as someone who took pay by cleaning people’s houses. Being a Moroccan and a Spanish, he had the advantage of representing Morocco or Spain.
But, why did he choose Morocco over Spain? According to Mothership borrowing from German League Bundesliga in 2018, he made the choice because Morocco is where his parents are from. He told the reporters that the way his parents raised him in a Muslim country, following the Muslim style, made him choose Morocco. Thus, he is more comfortable with Morocco.
In another interview recently, Hakimi told Marca that he did not feel at home in Spain. One of the contributing factors for him to represent Morroco is the need for belongingness. The Spain football team does not have Arab or Moroccan culture in it.
Aside from being a professional football player, Hakimi is also a good son. The moment when he celebrated the team’s victory against Spain has been talked about. He was seen running toward his mother to kiss her. This spontaneous action by him portrayed how he appreciates his parents.
Sources: Mothership, @AchrafHakimi (Twitter)