Morocco head coach Mohamed Ouahbi has described his side’s 1-1 draw with Ecuador team as a valuable exercise as he continues to fine-tune the squad ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The international friendly formed part of Morocco’s ongoing preparations, with another test lined up against Paraguay national football team on Tuesday evening in Lens, France.
Reflecting on the encounter, Ouahbi highlighted the quality of the opposition, noting Ecuador’s impressive showing in recent World Cup qualifiers, where they finished above traditional powerhouses such as Brazil national football team, Uruguay national football team and Colombia national football team.
“Anyone who follows international football understands how strong Ecuador are,” he said. “Facing a team like that is important, especially when preparation time is limited. These are the kind of matches that reveal where improvement is needed.”
Ouahbi noted that he tasked his players with pressing higher up the pitch and increasing their intensity, adding that there were spells where Morocco executed that approach effectively.
“At this level, aggression and high pressing are essential. We tried to implement that, and it was important to test those ideas in a competitive setting,” he explained.
While encouraged by certain aspects of the performance, the coach admitted the game also exposed areas that require further work.
“I am generally satisfied, but there is still room for improvement. That is part of the process—if everything was perfect, there would be no reason for me to be here,” he added.
The Moroccan tactician also stressed the need for better organisation, particularly when pressing collectively, and pointed to inefficiencies in the final third.
“We were decent in possession and showed we have players capable of creating chances,” he said. “But we need to make better use of space. There were moments we could have caused more damage by playing in behind, but our final passes lacked accuracy.”
Ouahbi believes these shortcomings will be addressed over time as the squad continues to adapt to his methods.
With another friendly on the horizon, he sees the clash with Paraguay as a further opportunity to refine his system and evaluate his players ahead of the global tournament.
