There is much more than a gesture of happiness in that simple kiss. There is the story of a family, of a mother and a son, of infinite sacrifices. Of fear and joy. Of dreams that come true. Achraf Hakimi is one of the stars of Morocco who eliminated Spain: he is the sniper who took the last penalty. That of victory. And immediately the rush to the grandstand to hug and kiss mum, Saida Mouto whom he is very close: “My mother – said the former Inter player – he worked as a housekeeper and my father was a street vendor. We come from a modest family who struggled to make a living. Today I fight every day for them. They sacrificed for me.”
Hakimi’s father and mother emigrated from Morocco to Spain. Achraf and his brothers were all born in Spain. They didn’t have a simple life, Hakimi’s parents made enormous sacrifices to keep the family going. Then slowly, thanks to the footballer, things improved for all of them. But in the highest moment of his career, the former Inter hasn’t forgotten the whole journey made by his parents. And of penalties and Hakimi will remember Antonio Conte’s nice curtain when he was coach of Inter, on April 25, 2021. It had just ended Inter-Verona: a goal by Darmian had brought the Nerazzurri closer to the Scudetto, which they would soon celebrate. Hakimi had hit a post on a free kick. A Antonio Conte euphoric, he jokingly told Sky: “From afar, Hakimi shoots well, but the important thing is that you don’t take penalty kicks. He will never shoot penalties, everyone else must die first. It really is a pippa, worse than me when I was playing”. The spoon against Spain is the official denial.
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