Morocco U17 World Cup: Morocco plays for survival against Portugal after defeat against Japan

In a press conference, Nabil Baha first wanted to rule out any comparison with the historic victory of the A team against Portugal at the 2022 World Cup. "Each generation has its own context," he insisted. "This is a completely different match and we must not add any pressure on these young players."

The main focus after the defeat against Japan was therefore psychological. The coach explained that he insisted on "serenity and positivity" in order to "transform the disappointment into motivation to correct the mistakes and show a different face against Portugal."

"Morocco’s goal is to reach the second round"

Nabil Baha expressed confidence in the result of this second match. "The team is ready. Tomorrow, you will see a different Morocco," he promised the press. "The players know what they have to do, and our goal is clear: to win."

This message was received by the group. Striker Ismaïl El Aoud confirmed the determination of the squad: "After the defeat, the coach spoke to us with a lot of conviction. We don’t feel any pressure, we just want to react and win this match."

Despite the "challenging group," the coach reiterated that "the goal remains to reach the second round." The Atlas Cubs will therefore face Portugal on Thursday in Doha, in a crucial match for their qualification hopes.