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Meknes – Morocco coach Mohamed Ouahbi praised his players for their historic 2026 FIFA World Cup quarter-final run, saying they played the best football in the country’s history.
The Moroccan tactician also noted that the squad gave fans unforgettable moments by showcasing an entirely new style of play on the global stage.
Speaking at a press conference earlier today, Ouahbi defended his roster decisions against post-tournament critics, pointing out that the debate surrounding excluded players only surfaced because of their narrow quarter-final exit to a world-class opponent.
“We are very happy, because today we are talking about players who weren’t called up simply because of a quarter-final match we didn’t succeed in, against a team that is perhaps currently one of the best in the world,” Ouahbi said.
Shifting the focus back to the squad’s actual achievements, the coach commended the players who made the trip and stressed their impressive performances against top global opponents.
“But the players who were with us are the ones who got us to the quarter-finals, and they are the ones who made us live wonderful moments against Brazil, the Netherlands, Canada, Haiti, and Scotland, playing a brand of football we have never played before in the World Cup,” he added.
Ouahbi went further to explain that he shares the public’s deep emotional connection to the team, having watched previous tournaments as a passionate supporter himself, before ultimately dismissing the post-cup debates as excuses.
“I have followed every edition of the World Cup and, first and foremost, I was a fan, so I lived through those experiences with the exact same emotions as you. Ultimately, I see all of this as just excuses,” he explained.
Looking ahead, Ouahbi made it clear that the door remains open for excluded players to earn their spot, while showing his complete satisfaction with the current squad.
“The players we left out of the squad will still have an important role to play in the future, because their performances over the coming weeks and months will be the key factor in deciding whether they deserve to join the national team. As for me, I am highly satisfied with the players who were with us,” Ouahbi concluded.
A 2-0 loss to France cut short Morocco’s World Cup run in the quarter-finals, but the historic campaign permanently established the Atlas Lions as a genuine footballing powerhouse on the global stage.
