Morocco coach Mohamed Ouahbi relishes tough U20 World Cup group draw

Morocco’s Under-20 coach Mohamed Ouahbi says his side are ready to embrace the challenge of facing some of world football’s biggest names at the upcoming U20 World Cup in Chile.

The young Atlas Lions, one of four African nations in the tournament, have been drawn in Group C alongside Brazil, Spain and Mexico. For Ouahbi, the draw represents both a daunting task and an opportunity to showcase the progress Moroccan football has made in recent years.

“We are in a very competitive group,” he told FIFA’s official website. “The first objective is to highlight the level of Moroccan football on the world stage, and that can only be achieved by testing ourselves against the strongest teams. Spain are European champions, Brazil are South American champions, and Mexico are Concacaf champions. In other words, we are set to face the best team from each continent, which is quite a challenge.”

Morocco head into the competition as runners-up from Africa, having shown steady improvement in youth development. Ouahbi believes that playing against opponents of such pedigree will only elevate his squad’s performance and prepare them for the demands of international football at the highest level.

“This is a unique chance to measure ourselves against the world’s elite,” he said. “Facing teams like Spain, Brazil and Mexico gives our players the opportunity to prove their value. We are very confident, and that confidence gives us energy. We are not afraid, but we respect every opponent, whether highly prestigious or less so. Our goal is clear: to go as far as possible and try to win the title.”

The coach’s optimism reflects the growing ambitions within Moroccan football, which has enjoyed a series of successes on the continental stage. Ouahbi insists his players will carry that same hunger and determination into Chile, no matter the calibre of their rivals.

“We’ll maintain this spirit and ambition regardless of who we face,” he added. “This is not just about surviving the group, but about showing the world that Moroccan football can compete at the very highest level.”

With the tournament set to begin in the coming days, Morocco’s preparations are already under way. While their group may be regarded as one of the toughest in the competition, Ouahbi is convinced that the experience will provide invaluable lessons for his squad and a platform to underline Morocco’s growing reputation in youth football.