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Join on Telegram Rabat – With just a few weeks until the FIFA U-17 World Cup Qatar 2025 (November 3–27), Morocco’s Nabil Baha has established high goals and national pride.
Having won the Africa U-17 Cup of Nations, the Atlas Lion Cubs now want to bring their success to the world stage. For this competition, Morocco is in Group B along with Japan, Portugal and New Caledonia.
Morocco is in Group B with Japan, Portugal and New Caledonia. In a recent interview with FIFA.com, Baha described the group as “difficult but motivating”, saying, “there are no small teams anymore in football.”
Talking about the next match, he said, “We’ll approach it with great humility, but with the intention of going further than last time. We know it’s a tough group, but our rivals will be up against the African champions, so things will be difficult for them as well.”
For the coach, it’s very important for the African champions to balance confidence and humility by respecting the opponent while at the same time asserting the way they play.
Building on success and preparing for the world stage
In the 2023 U-17 World Cup, Morocco reached the quarter-finals—their best result in history. But this time, Baha wants Morocco to advance even further.
“Our aim is to go as far as possible. We have full confidence in our abilities, and we’ll do everything possible to give our best and make the Moroccan people proud,” he said.
Baha talked about the team’s African title earlier this year: “It was very positive for us — winning the title was special, but even more so because we became the first Moroccan team to achieve this feat at this age level. The key was having talented players who can make a difference, and forming a team that feels like one big family.”
This year’s U-17 World Cup will be the largest ever with a pool of 48 teams for the first time. Playing against strong teams like Portugal and Japan will require Morocco to be tactically smart, and not just physically strong. But Baha’s camp is confident, backed by Morocco’s recent youth football progress.
“These players are ready to write a beautiful chapter in the history of Moroccan football,” Baha said convincingly.
