The Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) has officially reaffirmed its confidence in Mohamed Ouahbi, who will remain head coach of the Atlas Lions despite Morocco’s elimination in the quarter-finals of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Meeting on Thursday, the FRMF Executive Committee described the national team’s campaign as « honourable », stating that finishing among the top eight teams in the world represents another major achievement for Moroccan football. In an official statement, the Federation also stressed the importance of drawing lessons from the tournament in order to continue progressing ahead of future international competitions.
Steady progress continues
The FRMF noted that these results are part of a long-term project launched in 2018, when Morocco was ranked 84th in the FIFA World Ranking. Since then, the Atlas Lions have steadily climbed the rankings to break into the world’s top 10, recently reaching 6th place, reflecting the team’s consistent progress.
Following the historic semi-final appearance at the 2022 FIFA World Cup and the quarter-final finish in 2026, the Federation has set even higher ambitions. Its objective is to establish Morocco permanently among the world’s leading football nations and to consistently compete in the latter stages of major international tournaments.
Fouzi Lekjaa highlights Morocco’s ambitions
FRMF President Fouzi Lekjaa said that the Kingdom’s sporting ambitions continue to grow alongside the success achieved by Morocco’s various national teams. He highlighted the FIFA U-20 World Cup title, the impressive run of the U17 national team at the 2025 FIFA U-17 World Cup, and the bronze medal won by Morocco’s Olympic team at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. According to him, these achievements reflect the quality of Morocco’s player development system and the country’s footballing potential.
Strengthening communication with supporters
Fouzi Lekjaa also called for improving communication between the FRMF and the general public in order to better showcase the work carried out by the Federation.
The FRMF president stressed the importance of listening to constructive criticism and supporters’ observations, believing that such feedback can help address certain shortcomings and contribute to achieving Morocco’s long-term football ambitions.
