Morocco captain Hakimi: 'We have the quality to beat Brazil'

PARIS, France — Morocco captain Achraf Hakimi said his team has the quality to defeat Brazil in a friendly match scheduled for Saturday in the United States. Speaking at a pre-match news conference, the Paris Saint-Germain defender acknowledged Brazil's pedigree but said Morocco has a strong squad of its own. "We know the team we are going to face, the quality they have and the players," Hakimi said. "We also have a quality squad. They call us the 'Brazil of Africa,' we have high-capacity players." Hakimi said Morocco's run to the 2022 World Cup semifinals in Qatar was no fluke and that the squad had come to the United States to achieve more than just participate. He added that the team wants to produce historic results at the 2026 World Cup, drawing on internal confidence and the support of Moroccan fans. The match against Brazil is set to kick off at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey at 01:00 local time.