Morocco coach Mohammed Ouahbi believes his team can surpass their feat at the 2022 World Cup and win the 2026 edition.
Morocco head coach Mohamed Ouahbi has insisted his team will not get carried away by their impressive FIFA World Cup campaign, declaring that the only achievement worth celebrating would be lifting the trophy.
The Atlas Lions are preparing for a blockbuster quarter-final showdown against France, but their manager believes the journey is far from complete.
Thursday’s encounter will be a rematch of the 2022 World Cup semi-final, where France ended Morocco’s historic run in Qatar. This time, however, the North Africans arrive with greater belief and experience, no longer viewed as underdogs but as genuine contenders for the title.
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Speaking ahead of the match, Ouahbi made it clear that he is not interested in praise before the tournament is over. He stressed that Morocco would only reflect on their achievements once their World Cup campaign has concluded.
“We will take stock at the end of the tournament,” Ouahbi told reporters. “We are not going to listen to people saying what we have done so far is wonderful. The real reward is winning the World Cup, and that is the mentality that has brought us this far.”
Despite acknowledging France’s quality, the Moroccan coach insisted his players are fully focused on reaching the semi-finals. He described Les Bleus as favourites but vowed that his side would do everything possible to upset the 2018 world champions.
France booked their place in the last eight after edging Paraguay 1-0 in the Round of 16, thanks to Kylian Mbappe’s decisive penalty. Mbappe has now scored seven goals at the tournament, while Ousmane Dembele, Michael Olise and Bradley Barcola have formed one of the most dangerous attacking units in the competition.
Morocco, meanwhile, have continued to build on the momentum created in Qatar four years ago. After progressing comfortably through the group stage, they eliminated both the Netherlands and co-hosts Canada to cement their status as one of the strongest teams remaining in the tournament.
Ouahbi concluded by urging his players to approach the quarter-final with complete commitment and no fear. “It is not about comparing strengths,” he said.
“The Moroccan team continues to evolve, just as France do. We must play this match without regrets, improve where we can, and give 2,000 percent. We cannot think that reaching this stage is enough because our ambition is to go even further.”
