Eliminated by France in the quarter-finals of the 2026 World Cup, Morocco is already planning its next goals. For the coach Mohamed Ouahbi, it is not a question of questioning the work accomplished, but rather to draw lessons from this defeat in order to prepare as well as possible the next African Cup of Nations.
The day after the elimination against Les Bleus (2-0), the Moroccan technician recognized the superiority of France, believing that the Lions of the Atlas had been forced to defend lower than expected. According to him, the technical and tactical mastery of the French prevented Morocco from developing its game and being more dangerous offensively.
In an interview with Arryadia, Mohamed Ouahbi explained that his team had never intended to suffer so much, but that it was pushed to back by the quality of the opponent. He also pointed out the lack of offensive solutions and moves to unbalance the French bloc.
Despite this disappointment, the coach refuses to talk about failure. He recalls that Morocco has once again reached the quarter-finals of a World Cup, confirming its status among the best selections in the world. He also believes that several young players have reached a milestone during the competition.
However, Ouahbi calls for a lucid analysis of this journey. He wants a constructive self-criticism in order to identify the areas of progress, especially against the major nations capable of imposing a rhythm and a style of play different from those encountered on the African continent.
The focus is now on the African Cup of Nations. From the next rallies, the Atlas Lions will return to the playoffs with a clearly stated goal: to clinch the qualification and then go for the continental title.
For Mohamed Ouahbi, this AFCON will also be an essential step in the preparation of Morocco for the 2030 World Cup, which the Kingdom will co-organize with Spain and Portugal. The coach is confident in the potential of his group, while recalling that expectations around the Atlas Lions have changed: it is no longer just a question of achieving a great run, but now to win trophies and sustainably confirm Morocco’s place among the major nations of world football.
