Morocco coach Ouahbi vows stronger return after 2026 World Cup exit

Morocco coach Mohamed Ouahbi has vowed to rebuild his team following their quarter-final exit at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, as the Atlas Lions aim to strengthen their squad ahead of co-hosting the tournament in 2030 alongside Spain and Portugal.

The Moroccan national football team faced a 2-0 defeat to France at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, marking the second consecutive World Cup quarter-final loss to Les Bleus. The match, settled by second-half goals from Kylian Mbappé and Ousmane Dembélé, ended Morocco’s hopes of advancing further in the competition. Despite the setback, Ouahbi emphasized the team’s commitment to improvement.

“We know we can compete, and what we want to do is work even harder to try to do even better next time,” Ouahbi stated after the match. He acknowledged France’s strength, noting their consistent presence in recent World Cup finals and their current talent pool. Ouahbi, who took over as coach in March following Walid Regragui’s departure, stressed that Morocco’s goal remains winning the World Cup.

The defeat came after a demanding seven-month period that included a run to the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) final earlier this year. Morocco, who were favorites in the tournament held on home soil, lost 1-0 to Senegal in extra time. The match was marred by controversy when Senegal walked off in protest following a penalty awarded to Morocco. The Confederation of African Football later stripped Senegal of their title as punishment, though Senegal has appealed the decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

Ouahbi identified the upcoming AFCON in Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania as Morocco’s immediate priority, with qualifying matches set to begin in September. He highlighted the team’s young talent and strong federation as key assets in their development.

“Before that we have an AFCON and if we want to do well we need to keep building, try to qualify for that and win it,” Ouahbi said. “We have a huge hotbed of talent and a strong federation, so we have everything you could need to keep improving and moving forward.”

Morocco’s World Cup campaign featured emerging players such as French-born midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi, reflecting the team’s blend of experience and youth. Despite their loss to France, Ouahbi remained optimistic about the team’s future.

“We have to acknowledge that they are such a good side,” he said. “We have a talented young team and we want to get better. This tournament will help us improve.”

Ouahbi also acknowledged the physical and mental toll of the past months, which included the AFCON and World Cup campaigns. He emphasized the need for resilience as the team prepares for September’s qualifiers.

“We need to come back in September, pick ourselves up, and keep going,” he concluded.

#MoroccoFootball #WorldCup2026 #MohamedOuahbi #AFCON2025 #FootballNews #AtlasLions #SenegalFootball #FIFA