Morocco coach Mohamed Ouahbi satisfied with Atlas Lions’ perfect AFCON qualifying start

Morocco head coach Mohamed Ouahbi has expressed his satisfaction with the Atlas Lions’ start to the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign after they secured a second consecutive victory with a 2-0 win over Lesotho.

The result lifted Morocco to six points from their opening two matches and strengthened their position at the top of Group A as they continue their push for qualification.

Ouahbi admitted that the victory did not come easily, particularly because of the conditions surrounding the encounter and the state of the pitch, which made it difficult for Morocco to play their usual possession-based style.

Speaking at the post-match press conference, the national team coach said his players had to adapt to the circumstances and approach the game with greater pragmatism.

“It was not an easy match, especially with the conditions we found ourselves in. The pitch did not allow us to play our usual football, so we had to adapt and be pragmatic,” Ouahbi said.

Despite the difficulties, Ouahbi praised his players for maintaining their concentration and discipline throughout the encounter.

He felt an early goal would have made the game more comfortable for Morocco and allowed his side to dictate the tempo more effectively, but was pleased that the team eventually found a way to secure the three points while keeping a clean sheet.

The victory also provided the coaching staff with an opportunity to give several players valuable minutes, allowing them to assess more options within the squad.

According to Ouahbi, that aspect of the win was particularly important as Morocco continue to build a squad capable of competing across a demanding qualifying campaign.

The coach believes the Atlas Lions are making steady progress, although he acknowledged that there are still areas that need to be improved before their next assignments.

“We are progressing, and we have seen several positive things in these two matches, but there are also aspects that we need to correct and improve,” he indicated.

Morocco’s six-point haul gives the team an important platform heading into the next phase of the qualifiers.

Ouahbi revealed that the Atlas Lions will face Niger twice before taking on Gabon, fixtures that will provide further opportunities to improve their cohesion and raise their level of performance.

For the Moroccan coach, the perfect start provides confidence but does not mean the team can afford to relax.

He stressed the need for continued focus and seriousness as Morocco look to maintain their momentum and strengthen their position in the group.

The 2-0 victory over Lesotho therefore represents more than just another three points, with Ouahbi using the result to continue testing his squad, develop competition for places and prepare the Atlas Lions for the challenges ahead.