Following a quarter-final loss to France at the World Cup, Morocco head coach Mohamed Ouahbi has pledged that his squad will return with greater resilience. Despite high expectations for the tournament, the Atlas Lions fell 2-0 at Gillette Stadium due to second-half strikes from Kylian Mbappe and Ousmane Dembele.
Ouahbi acknowledged the superior quality of the French side, noting their status as repeat finalists. While disappointed that his team did not advance further, the coach emphasized the importance of hard work as they look toward future tournaments. Morocco is already shifting its focus toward the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania, with qualifying matches beginning in September.
The coach highlighted the depth of talent within the squad, which includes emerging prospects like teenager Ayyoub Bouaddi. Appointed in March after the departure of Walid Regragui, Ouahbi aims to leverage the nation’s strong federation to prepare for the 2030 World Cup, which Morocco will co-host alongside Spain and Portugal. Despite the fatigue from a challenging year that included a complex AFCON campaign, Ouahbi remains optimistic about the team’s trajectory and immediate objectives.
