World Cup 2026: Mohamed Ouahbi backs Brahim Diaz despite slow start

Morocco head coach Mohamed Ouahbi has publicly defended Brahim Diaz following the Atlas Lions’ 4-2 victory over Haiti, insisting the forward remains one of the team’s most important players despite not yet reaching his best level at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Speaking after Morocco secured qualification to the knockout stage on Wednesday night, Ouahbi made it clear that the coaching staff continues to place complete trust in the Real Madrid attacker as the tournament enters its decisive phase.

Ouahbi Highlights Diaz’s Importance to Morocco

During the post-match press conference, Ouahbi emphasised that Morocco’s ambitions at the World Cup were built around creating a highly competitive squad filled with players capable of making a difference at the highest level.

The Morocco coach pointed directly to Diaz’s quality and previous achievements as evidence of why the team continues to believe strongly in him.

“We wanted to build a competitive team. Brahim was the top scorer at the recent Africa Cup of Nations and plays for Real Madrid; he is a great player who will bring a lot to the table for us,” Ouahbi said.

Although Diaz has not yet produced the kind of standout display many supporters expected, Ouahbi stressed that the forward remains central to Morocco’s plans moving forward.

Morocco Coach Calls for Patience and Support

Ouahbi acknowledged that expectations surrounding Diaz are naturally higher because of his talent and reputation, but insisted criticism would not change the team’s confidence in the player.

“We expect more from him because he is one of the best players. He provided two assists in the first two matches, and I am not blaming anyone. We will give him the support and confidence he needs so he can be effective in the next match and help us secure qualification.”

The comments reflected Morocco’s determination to protect one of its key attacking players ahead of the knockout rounds, where individual quality could become increasingly important.

Morocco Fight Back to Defeat Haiti

The match itself proved far more complicated than many anticipated for the Atlas Lions.

Morocco fell behind early after an own goal involving goalkeeper Yassine Bounou handed Haiti the lead. Achraf Hakimi responded with an equaliser, but Haiti regained the advantage through a spectacular long-range effort from Wilson Isidor.

Ismael Saibari restored parity just before halftime, ensuring Morocco entered the break level at 2-2 after a chaotic opening period.

The introduction of second-half substitutes ultimately changed the contest. Soufiane Rahimi scored the crucial go-ahead goal before Gessime Yassine added another late strike to complete the comeback and secure Morocco’s place in the Round of 32.

Knockout Challenge Awaits the Atlas Lions

The victory confirmed Morocco as runners-up in Group C and extended the team’s journey at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Attention now shifts toward the knockout stage, where the Atlas Lions will face the winners of Group F in the Round of 32.

With tougher tests looming, Ouahbi’s public backing of Diaz suggested the Morocco coach believes the forward could still play a decisive role in the team’s ambitions later in the tournament.