Moroccan player Zakaria Hadraf revealed the story behind his compatriot Yahya Attiat-Allah’s celebration after scoring his first goal in the Egyptian league. In an interview with sports journalist and former Egyptian international Ahmed Hassan, Hadraf also discussed the possibility of joining the Egyptian league in the near future.
Hadraf explained that the iconic celebration, known as the “Hadraf style,” originated during the 2018 African Nations Championship (CHAN). He clarified that raising his hands to the sky symbolizes a prayer to God and a message of solidarity. He expressed gratitude to Yahya Attiat-Allah, Achraf Dari, and the other Al-Ahly players who celebrated in this way, adding that he personally called Attiat-Allah after the match to thank him for the dedication.
The 34-year-old also revealed that he had received offers from Egyptian and Libyan clubs but has not yet made a decision regarding his future destination.
As for the ease with which Ahmed Hassan was able to communicate with Haddraf, despite the use of Moroccan Darija, the former Egyptian player paid tribute to Moroccan international Mbark Boussoufa. Hassan explained that he had learned the Moroccan dialect during their time together at Anderlecht in Belgium and praised the support Boussoufa had provided him during his professional career in the Pro League.
