U-17 World Cup: Morocco will finish Group B as winners – Mohamed Ouahbi

Morocco’s U20 head coach, Mohamed Ouahbi, has backed the country’s U17 side to emerge as group winners at the 2025 FIFA U17 World Cup in Qatar.

Speaking to Al Kass TV, Ouahbi assessed Group B, which pits Morocco against Japan, Portugal and New Caledonia, predicting a strong start for the North African side.

“There are three strong teams in this group. I see Morocco finishing first, Japan second and Portugal third,” he said, adding that Japan and Portugal are likely to battle for the runners-up spot, with New Caledonia expected to struggle.

The U17 team, led by Nabil Baha, open their campaign on Monday against Japan at 14:30 (GMT+1). This year’s competition, which runs from November 3 to 27, marks a historic expansion to 48 participating teams.

Ouahbi’s confidence carries weight. He guided the U20s to their maiden FIFA U20 World Cup crown less than a month ago, a landmark achievement that underlined Morocco’s rapid rise in youth football. His familiarity with the national development structure and several emerging players lends further credibility to his forecast.

The squad touched down in Doha on October 30 following a training camp in the UAE, where they drew 3–3 with Venezuela and defeated Switzerland 2–0. Their recent triumph at the U17 Africa Cup of Nations has only intensified expectations ahead of the global showpiece.

With Japan, Portugal and New Caledonia awaiting them, a positive opening result would reinforce Ouahbi’s belief and strengthen the growing narrative that Morocco’s new generation of talent is on the brink of something special.