Mohamed Ouahbi has sought to end the speculation surrounding Sofyan Amrabat following comments made by the midfielder’s brother, who expressed dissatisfaction with the player’s limited playing time during the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The Atlas Lions head coach insists that there is no conflict with the Moroccan international.
Speaking at a press conference, Ouahbi explained that he knew Amrabat’s personality very well before calling him up to the national team. He understood that the player wanted to be a starter, but what mattered most to him was Amrabat’s commitment in training every day.
« The only question I asked was: does he work hard on the pitch? I was told yes. I said: I’ll take him, » the head coach said.
Mohamed Ouahbi acknowledged that Sofyan Amrabat found his role during the World Cup difficult to accept. In particular, they had a discussion before the match against Brazil, when the player realized that he might not be in the starting lineup. The Moroccan coach assured him at the time that he would count on him during the tournament.
Despite his frustration, Amrabat remained fully committed. According to Ouahbi, the midfielder continued to work hard, which ultimately earned him playing time. The head coach also refused to attach too much importance to the comments made by the player’s brother. He believes they were primarily driven by emotion, pointing out that players’ families also experience major tournaments very intensely.
Finally, Mohamed Ouahbi emphasized that Sofyan Amrabat has a strong personality. According to him, if there had been a genuine problem, the player would have come to discuss it with him directly. For the head coach, the matter is now closed. He insisted that the controversy does not affect his confidence in Amrabat, while also reminding that competition in midfield has become extremely strong with the emergence of young talents such as Ayyoub Bouaddi, Neil El Aynaoui, and El Mourabet.
