Morocco World Cup Dream Continues Despite France Defeat

Mohamed Ouahbi did not try to hide the bitterness of the elimination. After the defeat against France, the national coach acknowledged that the Lions of the Atlas had faced a very high-level opponent, in a match made particularly difficult in the first half.

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Morocco suffered before the break. Ouahbi explained that his players then needed a second wind, before being kept in the match by Yassine Bounou, who made a decisive penalty save. The Moroccan reaction was then better in the second half, with a team more solid defensively and calmer in ball use.

The coach also returned to the French goal, born according to him from a confused action where some Moroccan players stopped thinking of a possible handball. However, he avoided ruling on the refereeing, recalling that he was not the referee. The end of the match was then complicated by the individual action of Kylian Mbappé.

A defeat, not an end of cycle

Beyond the result, Ouahbi insists especially on what comes next. He believes that Morocco must continue to believe in its project, work on fundamentals and strengthen its bench options, particularly to better respond to injuries and diminished players.

The coach acknowledges that his squad hoped to go further. But he refuses to let this elimination break the momentum of this young generation. For him, the objective remains to build a team capable of competing with the best and playing for titles in upcoming competitions.

Ouahbi also recalled the symbolic significance of this selection. In his eyes, the Lions of the Atlas represent much more than a national team: they carry the expectations of millions of Moroccans, in Morocco and in the diaspora, but also of part of the Arab and African world.

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The message is therefore clear: the defeat against France is painful, but it must not stop the project. Morocco wants to continue moving forward with this generation, with the ambition to transform its runs into trophies.