World Cup 2026: Morocco’s future is bright despite exit, says coach Mohamed Ouahbi

Morocco head coach Mohamed Ouahbi has urged his players to use their World Cup disappointment as motivation, insisting the Atlas Lions have a bright future despite their quarter-final exit from the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

The Atlas Lions’ campaign came to an end with a 2-0 defeat to France, but Ouahbi believes the performance offered enough encouragement to remain confident about the team’s long-term progress.

Speaking to beIN Sports after the match, the Morocco coach admitted the result was difficult to accept while acknowledging the quality of the French side.

Ouahbi praises resilience despite defeat

Ouahbi said Morocco matched France for long periods of the contest, particularly after the break, and praised his players for remaining composed under pressure.

He also singled out goalkeeper Yassine Bounou for an outstanding display after the veteran shot-stopper produced several crucial saves to keep Morocco in the contest, including denying Kylian Mbappé from the penalty spot early in the match.

Despite the defeat, Ouahbi maintained that his side had shown enough character to compete with one of the tournament favourites.

Coach questions controversial moment

The Morocco coach also reflected on a contentious incident in the build-up to France’s opening goal, when Moroccan players appealed for a handball involving a French player.

“The players stopped because they noticed a handball, but I am not a referee to decide,” he commented.

While acknowledging there were mistakes in his team’s performance, Ouahbi said the players had given everything on the night.

‘The future will be better’

Looking ahead, Ouahbi insisted Morocco’s World Cup exit should strengthen rather than weaken the team’s resolve.

“We have to continue working. We had some absences because some players were not ready. There is disappointment… The future will be better and more beautiful,” the coach said.

He stressed that the defeat would not derail Morocco’s long-term ambitions.

“We did our best. We should continue to work and keep full confidence. We will not let this defeat discourage us.”

Morocco’s 2026 World Cup campaign ended in the quarter-finals after another impressive run on the global stage. As the only African nation to reach the last eight, the Atlas Lions once again reinforced their standing among the continent’s leading football powers while providing further evidence of the progress made under Ouahbi’s leadership.