Morocco coach Mohamed Ouahbi conceded France were the better team after his side’s 2-0 World Cup quarter-final defeat.
Morocco head coach Mohamed Ouahbi admitted France deserved their 2-0 victory after the Atlas Lions saw their FIFA World Cup journey come to an end in the quarter-finals on Thursday.
Although disappointed by the result, Ouahbi praised his players for their commitment throughout the tournament and urged them to keep their heads high despite falling short against one of the competition’s favourites.
“I told my players to keep their heads high because we gave our all and gave our best,” Ouahbi said after the match. “But we also need to take stock of the situation, improve and be objective. We cannot simply say we are proud of what we have done. We have to analyse ourselves if we want to keep progressing.”
France controlled large periods of the contest, dominating possession and creating the clearer goalscoring opportunities. Morocco struggled to impose themselves and rarely threatened the French defence throughout the 90 minutes.
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Ouahbi acknowledged the difficulties his side faced, particularly in the opening half. He explained that France’s movement, quality in possession and attacking threat on both flanks prevented Morocco from finding any rhythm.
“The first half was very difficult because France were excellent on the ball,” he said. “They created problems out wide and through the middle. When we regained possession, our transitions were not good enough, and they stayed in their comfort zone. We lacked ideas and freshness, so we have to accept the defeat.”
Despite the disappointment, the Morocco coach refused to dwell on regrets, pointing out that reaching the last eight remains another significant achievement for his team after their historic semi-final run at the 2022 World Cup.
Looking ahead, Ouahbi believes Morocco can continue to close the gap on the world’s elite. With the country set to co-host the 2030 World Cup alongside Spain and Portugal, he expressed confidence that his players will return stronger and perhaps even gain revenge against France in the future.
He also backed Les Bleus to challenge for the trophy, saying they possess all the qualities needed to go all the way, although he admitted he would be cheering for Belgium should they meet France in the semi-finals.
