Rabat – Morocco midfielder Neil El Aynaoui said the 1-1 draw against Ecuador was a difficult test and believes the team can perform at a higher level in the coming matches.
The friendly took place as part of Morocco’s preparation for the 2026 World Cup, with another game scheduled against Paraguay next Tuesday in Lens, France.
Speaking after the match, El Aynaoui described the game as challenging from the start. He pointed to the quality of the opponent and the intensity of the contest.
“It was a complicated match,” he said. “We know we can do much better.”
Ecuador arrived in strong form after an impressive World Cup qualifying campaign in South America, finishing second behind Argentina and ahead of Brazil. Morocco, meanwhile, used the match to test new ideas under head coach Mohamed Ouahbi.
El Aynaoui said the team showed good fighting spirit, especially in the later stages of the match. He also noted some improvement in performance compared to earlier moments.
“We showed good character until the end,” he said. “There were positive things, and we need to keep them and stay confident.”
Adapting to a new system
The midfielder also spoke about the challenge of adapting to a new coach. Morocco recently entered a new phase under Ouahbi, following the period led by Walid Regragui.
El Aynaoui explained that working with a national team brings different challenges compared to club football, mainly because of the limited time together.
“It’s not easy,” he said. “We don’t have the same time as in clubs to work on ideas. That makes things more difficult for the coach.”
Despite that, he believes the team has already started to understand what the coach wants.
“He tried to introduce his ideas in a short time, and I think he did it well,” he added.
Read also: Ouahbi: Ecuador Draw Showed Morocco What Must Improve
