Morocco finish October unbeaten as Mohamed Ouahbi identifies areas for improvement

Morocco head coach Mohamed Ouahbi believes the Atlas Lions still have areas to improve despite ending the October international window unbeaten following a 1-1 draw with Mali in Tangier.

Morocco had opened the camp with consecutive 2-0 victories over Gabon and Lesotho in their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign before Mali halted their winning run in Sunday’s friendly at the Grand Stade de Tanger.

Ouahbi welcomed the challenge posed by Mali, saying the coaching staff deliberately wanted a demanding opponent rather than an easier final fixture.

“We didn’t want to end the camp with an easy match. We’re very happy to have faced a strong team that caused us problems and showed a lot of quality,” he said after the game.

Mali expose Morocco’s attacking problems

Morocco took the lead through Abdessamad Ezzalzouli’s 35th-minute penalty, but Mali fought back and equalised through Gaoussou Diarra in the 77th minute.

Ouahbi admitted his side struggled at times to find a way through Mali’s defensive organisation, particularly through the centre of the pitch.

“We found it difficult to play through the middle at times, but we improved in the second half and took greater control of the game,” he said.

The draw therefore provided Morocco with a different test from the two qualifying victories that preceded it, giving Ouahbi an opportunity to assess his players against a side capable of putting pressure on them in possession.

Ouahbi pleased with Morocco’s response

Despite the difficulties, the Morocco coach was encouraged by how his players handled Mali’s pressing game.

“We showed good qualities, and our opponents found it very difficult to press us and win the ball back,” Ouahbi said.

The comments underline one of the positive aspects of Morocco’s performance, with the Atlas Lions able to retain possession and gradually take greater control after the interval.

However, Ouahbi was equally clear that the camp had highlighted areas that require further work.

“We saw a lot of positive things during this camp, but there are still areas we need to work on and improve,” he said.

Morocco finish unbeaten ahead of next challenge

Morocco’s October programme ultimately delivered two victories and a draw, with the Atlas Lions collecting wins against Gabon and Lesotho before the stalemate with Mali.

For Ouahbi, the final result was less important than the value of the three-match camp and the lessons gained from facing different types of opposition.

“We leave this camp satisfied. It was very useful for us, and we will continue to develop and grow,” he concluded.

The Mali test therefore gave Morocco a useful assessment of their progress while also providing Ouahbi and his coaching staff with a clearer picture of the areas they must address as the Atlas Lions continue their preparations for future African competition.