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Rabat – Morocco head coach Mohamed Ouahbi has said the Atlas Lions’ players cannot currently be compared with their French counterparts because of the different competitive environments they experience at club level.
Ouahbi made the comments during Tuesday’s press conference, where he reviewed Morocco’s campaign at the 2026 World Cup and discussed the quarterfinal defeat against France.
“With all due respect, we cannot compare the French national team’s players with ours when we look at the clubs they represent,” Ouahbi said.
The Morocco coach pointed to the quality and experience available to France manager Didier Deschamps.
“When you are a coach like Didier Deschamps and you have players such as Dembele, Mbappe, Olise, Upamecano, Doue and Barcola in front of you, it makes a difference,” he said.
Ouahbi noted that many of those players represent leading European clubs, including Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich.
“They play Champions League matches every three days and regularly deal with the pressure of competing at the highest level,” he added.
“For them, it is natural to play in that manner.”
Morocco must continue developing
Ouahbi’s remarks came as he examined the differences that appeared during Morocco’s World Cup meeting with France.
The coach did not present the gap as an excuse, but as an indication of the level Morocco must continue working toward.
His comments also reflected the importance of helping more Moroccan players compete regularly at leading European clubs and gain experience in major continental competitions.
Ouahbi has said Morocco must learn from the tournament, strengthen the depth of its squad and help its young players prepare for the demands of major international matches.
