2027 AFCON qualifiers: Mohamed Ouahbi praises Morocco’s attacking display after Niger victory

Morocco coach Mohamed Ouahbi has praised his side’s attacking performance after they secured a convincing 5-1 victory over Niger in the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.

The Atlas Lions produced an impressive display in Casablanca on Friday to claim all three points in their Group encounter, with their attacking efficiency proving decisive against a Niger side that defended with a compact structure.

Speaking at the post-match press conference, Ouahbi highlighted his players’ ability to find spaces and break down their opponents’ defensive organisation.

“We showed efficiency in our attacking play and made good ball exits against a very compact opposing block.”

The Moroccan coach was pleased with the team’s possession and movement in the attacking third, saying their control of the game allowed them to put Niger under pressure from the opening stages.

“The national team had great control of the ball and delivered a very serious match, creating an overload in Niger’s penalty area, which allowed us to take the lead from the start of the match,” he said.

However, Ouahbi believes there is still room for improvement, particularly in the team’s ability to maintain their presence in the opposition’s penalty area and sustain their attacking intensity throughout the match.

He also pointed to improvements in Morocco’s defensive organisation, noting that his players were more solid and restricted Niger’s opportunities to exploit spaces behind the defence.

Despite the comfortable scoreline, the coach admitted that his side lost some concentration towards the closing stages, allowing their intensity to drop.

“We lacked a bit of concentration at the end of the game, which led to a drop in pressure. However, overall, the team was very present and aggressive.”

Ouahbi also explained how Morocco approached Niger’s defensive setup, with the coaching staff encouraging players to attempt shots from outside the penalty area when spaces were difficult to find.

“Against very deep defensive blocks, you have to find variety and spaces. We asked the players to try their luck from outside the opponent’s penalty area, which proved beneficial for us,” he explained.

The coach also reserved special praise for Brahim Diaz, describing the Real Madrid forward as a player whose quality brings significant value to the national team.

“He is a world-class player. His level of play speaks for itself. He is the type of player who brings real added value to the team.”

Morocco will have another opportunity to face Niger when the two sides meet again for the fourth round of the 2027 AFCON qualifiers on Tuesday, 17 November.

The return fixture will take place at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat, where Ouahbi’s side will look to build on their emphatic victory.