U-17 World Cup: Morocco will put up a different performance in knockout stage – Nabil Baha

Morocco’s U-17 coach, Nabil Baha, has vowed a stronger showing as his side advances to the knockout stage of the FIFA U-17 World Cup.

The Atlas Cubs secured a commanding 16-0 victory over New Caledonia, bouncing back from two earlier defeats to book their place in the Round of 16.

Reflecting on the result, Baha praised his team’s resilience while acknowledging the pressure they faced in the group stage.

“We thank the Moroccan fans who came to support us, even though they were hard on us after the Portugal loss,” Baha said.

“It was important to score many goals to improve our goal difference. We had to win, we had nothing to lose.”

While conceding that New Caledonia was a lighter challenge compared to Portugal and Japan, Baha stressed the importance of maintaining focus.

“Let’s be honest, they were easier. But we needed to score a lot. Now we’re at +8, and that could make the difference.”

The coach also highlighted the team’s mental shift.

“We were under pressure in the first two games. But today, we played freely. The players were happy, and that’s what we want.”

Morocco’s progression was confirmed after Costa Rica lost to Croatia and the UAE fell to Senegal in Group C, leaving both with just one point.

Morocco’s three points, boosted by their superior goal difference, put them ahead, outpacing Tunisia, who finished third in Group D with a +3 goal difference.

The Atlas Cubs now look ahead to the knockout stage, carrying momentum and renewed confidence from their record-breaking win.