Rabat – Scotland coach Steve Clarke has identified Ayoub Bouaddi as one of Morocco’s biggest threats ahead of tmorrow’s Group C clash at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, saying his team’s mission is to prevent the young midfielder from stealing the spotlight once again.
Speaking at his pre-match press conference, Clarke admitted that facing the Atlas Lions would be as difficult as taking on Brazil and described Morocco as one of the strongest teams in the tournament.
“Is this match as difficult as the Brazil game? Yes, absolutely,” Clarke said. “Morocco reached the semifinals in Qatar, and I think this Moroccan team is very good, if not the best.”
The Scotland manager went even further, claiming that the current Atlas Lions side is stronger than the one that made history at the 2022 World Cup.
“I believe this Morocco team is better than the 2022 team, and we are the underdogs,” he said.
Clarke expects Morocco to dominate possession in Friday’s match in Boston but stressed that Scotland must be dangerous whenever it has the ball.
“I expect Morocco to have more possession than us. When we have the ball, we have to be a real threat,” he added.
The Scottish coach also singled out 18-year-old Ayoub Bouaddi for praise after his impressive display against Brazil in Morocco’s opening 1-1 draw.
“I think Morocco’s reliance on young players has raised the team’s level,” Clarke said. “Bouaddi caught everyone’s attention in the first game, and our task now is to make sure he does not attract the same attention in the second match.”
Morocco and Scotland meet on Friday in Boston in a crucial Group C encounter. The Atlas Lions are looking to build on their draw with Brazil and move closer to qualification for the knockout stage, while Scotland is seeking a positive result to keep its own hopes alive.
