AFCON 2027 qualifiers: Mohamed Ouahbi urges patience for new Morocco players

Morocco coach Mohamed Ouahbi has urged patience with the national team’s emerging players, saying they need opportunities and time to adapt to senior international football.

Ouahbi was speaking ahead of Tuesday’s 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Lesotho in Bloemfontein, with Morocco looking to build on their opening victory over Gabon.

The coach has introduced several new faces to the Atlas Lions squad, including uncapped youngsters Abdellah Ouazane, Soufian El Faouzi and Yassir Zabiri.

“We want these players to develop,” Ouahbi said. “We also want to see them on the pitch and allow them to prove themselves.”

Ouahbi accepts mistakes will happen

The Morocco coach said young players must also be given the freedom to make mistakes as they learn to operate at international level.

“We also have to allow them to make some mistakes and make some wrong decisions when that happens, because we have to respect the fact that they are young players,” he said.

Ouahbi has stressed that opportunities will not be guaranteed, however, with performances remaining an important factor in determining who continues to represent Morocco.

The approach forms part of a wider effort to introduce emerging Moroccan talent into the senior national team, with the country’s new generation being given opportunities alongside established players.

Morocco target second qualifying win

The Atlas Lions began their AFCON 2027 campaign with a 2-0 victory over Gabon in Rabat on Friday, a result which placed them top of Group A with three points and a +2 goal difference.

Morocco have since travelled to South Africa for their second qualifying fixture and trained in Bloemfontein on Sunday.

The FRMF said all players who made the trip took part in the session, while defender Nayef Aguerd remained in Morocco to continue his return-to-competition programme.

Morocco face Lesotho at the Free State Toyota Stadium on Tuesday, with kick-off scheduled for 13:00 GMT.