Morocco World Cup Exit: Ouahbi Eyes Africa Cup Glory

The elimination against France leaves regrets, but Mohamed Ouahbi wants to avoid two pitfalls: hiding behind absences or erasing everything the Atlas Lions built during the tournament. After the 0-2 defeat conceded Thursday in Boston, the Moroccan coach acknowledged the superiority of the Blues.

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Morocco suffered in transitions, lacked freshness and spent too much time defending. According to Ouahbi, this defensive approach was not planned initially. France imposed its ball control, found gaps on the flanks and prevented the Moroccans from breaking out cleanly.

In an interview with Arryadia, the coach explained that his team had not chosen to defend so deep, but had been forced to do so by French quality. He also acknowledged a lack of ideas and runs to stretch the opposing block.

The Africa Cup of Nations already on their minds

Despite the disappointment, Ouahbi refuses to turn this defeat into a crisis. He recalls that Morocco went far in the competition and that several young players gained experience. But the coach does not want an overly comfortable narrative either.

His message is clear: the run is positive, but the elimination must serve a purpose. He calls for "objective" self-criticism at all levels, particularly regarding Morocco’s ability to adapt to very high-level opponents with styles different from those encountered in Africa.

The next stage arrives quickly. From September, the Atlas Lions will face the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers. For Ouahbi, the objective is simple: qualify, then aim for the title. The Africa Cup of Nations becomes an important step in Morocco’s construction towards the 2030 World Cup.

The coach believes his squad still has room for improvement. He says he is surprised by how quickly the players have assimilated his ideas since his arrival in March, but he knows that the level displayed against France is not enough to win the biggest competitions.

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Ouahbi therefore wants to stay the course. Morocco leaves the World Cup with pride, but also with a new requirement: no longer be satisfied with a good run. Supporters now expect titles, and the coach has understood this well.