‘We must try to win AFCON’ – Ouahbi outlines Morocco’s next chapter

Morocco head coach Mohamed Ouahbi has challenged the Atlas Lions to turn their attention towards winning the Africa Cup of Nations after their 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign ended with a quarter-final defeat to France.

The Atlas Lions’ impressive run came to an end on Thursday following a 2-0 loss to the French, but Ouahbi insisted the result would not derail the team’s long-term ambitions as preparations begin for the next phase of Morocco’s development.

Speaking after the match, the Moroccan coach said continental success is now the immediate objective before attention shifts to the 2030 FIFA World Cup.

AFCON becomes Morocco’s next target

Ouahbi stressed that Morocco must focus on the challenges directly ahead rather than looking too far into the future, with AFCON qualifiers and the continental finals taking priority.

“Before the 2030 World Cup, we have the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, followed by the AFCON finals. If we want to be in the best possible shape for the upcoming challenges and continue building until 2030, we must prepare well and try to win the Africa Cup of Nations,” Ouahbi said.

The coach believes sustained success will come through careful planning as Morocco look to build on consecutive deep World Cup runs and establish themselves among Africa’s dominant football nations.

Coach highlights foundation behind Morocco’s rise

Ouahbi also pointed to the structures supporting Moroccan football, saying the national team’s recent achievements are the product of years of investment and long-term planning.

“We know we have young players, a strong federation, and a King who invests heavily in football, and this is what has allowed us to reach where we are today,” he added.

Morocco reached the World Cup quarter-finals after another impressive campaign, reinforcing their position as Africa’s highest-performing side at the tournament.

‘Hold your heads high’

Although disappointed by the defeat, Ouahbi revealed he urged his players to leave the tournament with pride while embracing the lessons from their latest appearance on football’s biggest stage.

“What I told the players after the match was to hold their heads high. We tried everything, and now we must analyze things so we can keep working. We need to practice self-criticism, not because we are bad, but because we want more,” the Moroccan tactician concluded.

With their World Cup campaign over, Morocco will now begin preparations for the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers as they seek to convert their growing reputation on the global stage into continental silverware before turning their focus towards co-hosting the 2030 FIFA World Cup.