Rabat – The Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) has renewed its confidence in national team head coach Mohamed Ouahbi, confirming that he will remain in charge of the Atlas Lions.
The decision was taken during a meeting of the FRMF executive committee on Thursday, July 16, at the federation’s headquarters under the leadership of President Fouzi Lekjaa.
It comes days after Morocco’s 2-0 defeat to France in the quarterfinals of the 2026 World Cup.
Despite missing out on a second consecutive semifinal appearance, the federation assessed Morocco’s campaign positively and backed Ouahbi to continue the long-term project surrounding the national team.
In a statement issued after the meeting, the FRMF described the Atlas Lions’ participation as “positive and honorable.”
The federation said Morocco had once again confirmed its position among the leading nations in world football by reaching the quarterfinals, four years after its historic run to the semifinals of the 2022 World Cup.
Building on World Cup experience
Members of the executive committee stressed the importance of learning from the tournament and building on the progress achieved in recent years.
The FRMF said the main objective for the coming period would be to preserve Morocco’s recent gains while taking another step forward at future continental and international competitions.
The federation also placed the national team’s performances within a broader, long-term football development strategy.
Officials pointed to Morocco’s rise from 84th to 6th place in the FIFA rankings, as well as the strong results achieved by the country’s national teams in recent seasons.
Lekjaa defends players from criticism
Lekjaa defended the national team players and praised their commitment throughout the World Cup.
He expressed regret over the criticism and rumors that followed the quarterfinal defeat to France, insisting that the squad had acted professionally and demonstrated a strong attachment to the Moroccan shirt.
The executive committee also called for the Atlas Lions to be protected from what it described as “malicious rumors and false information.”
The federation said maintaining a calm and stable environment around the team would allow Ouahbi and his players to continue their work under the best possible conditions.
By keeping Ouahbi in charge, the FRMF has opted for continuity as Morocco looks to build on another deep World Cup campaign and prepare for its next major challenges.
