World Cup 2026: Morocco coach Mohamed Ouahbi Proud despite quarterfinal exit to France

Morocco head coach Mohamed Ouahbi has insisted the Atlas Lions will emerge stronger from their FIFA World Cup disappointment after their quarter-final elimination, expressing pride in his players despite Thursday’s 2-0 defeat to France.

Speaking after the match, an emotional Ouahbi admitted the result was difficult to accept but stressed that Morocco’s impressive World Cup journey should not be overshadowed by their exit.

“We are very disappointed because we were aiming for more, but we have to accept this result,” Wahbi said. “We will not let this defeat discourage us, and we will continue working.”

The Moroccan coach dismissed suggestions that his side deliberately adopted a defensive approach, explaining that France’s quality on the ball forced his team into deeper positions.

“I always say that we don’t make preconceived decisions about the height or depth of our defensive line,” he explained. “The French team forced us to retreat because they were excellent in possession, constantly creating overloads on the flanks with quick combinations and intelligent movement. That forced us to defend deeper than we wanted.”

Wahbi acknowledged that Morocco struggled to play out from the back during the opening half but praised his players for their response after the interval.

“Our biggest problem in the first half was progressing the ball during attacking transitions,” he said. “Things improved significantly in the second half because the players made greater efforts off the ball, created better movement and stretched France’s defensive shape. After the first 25 minutes, we regained our composure and managed to reduce their pressure. Although we didn’t create enough attacking opportunities, I believe our second-half performance was much better.”

The Moroccan tactician also admitted France deserved the victory but pointed to a brief lapse in concentration that led to the opening goal.

“France are a very strong team. They punish every turnover, play with incredible intensity and have enormous quality. The first goal came when we briefly lost our focus. We were preparing to make changes, then there was a 50-50 challenge and a handball incident. I don’t want to dwell on that because France were the better team, and we have to acknowledge that.”

Despite missing several key players through injury, Ouahbi refused to use absences as an excuse for the defeat.

“When you lose players who are regular starters for their clubs, it is never ideal,” he said. “But we must trust the rest of the squad. I don’t want to make excuses related to injuries.”

Looking ahead, the Morocco boss stressed the importance of strengthening squad depth as the Atlas Lions prepare for future competitions.

“We must continue believing in our abilities and keep working. We need to build a wider pool of players so that when injuries occur or some players are not at their best physically, we have quality alternatives. That is the direction we will continue to follow.”