Meknes – Despite losing in the 2026 FIFA World Cup quarterfinals, Morocco head coach Mohamed Ouahbi says the team’s long-term plans will not change. The Atlas Lions will now shift their focus to preparing for the upcoming AFCON tournament and building toward the 2030 World Cup.
Morocco’s impressive tournament run came to an end on Thursday with a 2-0 defeat against France, wrapping up their 2026 World Cup journey in the quarterfinal stage.
During the post-match press conference, the Morocco coach stressed the importance of taking things one step at a time rather than looking too far ahead. He made it clear that continental success is the immediate priority for the Atlas Lions.
“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 credited Morocco’s rising status on the global stage to the country’s solid football infrastructure and leadership, pointing out that their current success is the result of a collective, long-term effort.
“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.
Despite the disappointment of the defeat, the manager shared the encouraging message he gave to his squad in the locker room, stressing the importance of learning from the experience.
“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.
While the sting of elimination remains, Morocco’s focus is already locked on what lies ahead. The squad will quickly regroup to focus on continental qualifiers and their long-term goals.
