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Morocco head coach Mohamed Ouahbi praised his players' resilience and character after they secured a place in the Round of 16 of the 2026 FIFA World Cup by defeating the Netherlands 3-2 on penalties following a thrilling 1-1 draw.
The Moroccan coach admitted his side struggled in the opening half against a Dutch team that surprised him tactically.
«We were very surprised by the way they played and by their organization. I wasn't expecting such a compact defensive block. We struggled to adapt in the first half, but at halftime the coaching staff found solutions, and the players executed them perfectly», he said after the match.
Ouahbi reserved special praise for his team's mentality.
«I'm very proud of their performance, their fighting spirit and their character. They never gave up, even in the most difficult moments.»
The coach also highlighted the impact of his substitutes.
«I want to congratulate the players who came off the bench. They made a huge contribution to the team. They're always ready to come on and make the difference. That's the strength of a group that wants to go far.»
Despite creating numerous chances, Morocco were repeatedly denied by the Dutch goalkeeper before eventually prevailing in the penalty shootout.
«We tried everything. We were up against an outstanding goalkeeper who had an exceptional match. But that's football. You have to find a way to win and keep moving forward. Today we're through, and we want to continue our journey.»
Ouahbi also offered an encouraging update on defender Chadi Riad, who was forced off during the match.
«He took a knock. It's nothing serious, and we hope to have him back very soon.»
The Morocco coach was equally pleased for Issa Diop, whose stoppage-time equalizer kept the Atlas Lions alive.
«I'm very happy for him. He's a very calm person with real inner strength. I didn't know when he would score his first goal, but I was convinced it would come in a very important match. He deserves this moment.»
Ouahbi stressed that his staff had prepared for every possible scenario before facing the Netherlands.
«The objective is for the players to believe in themselves. For several years now, this group has been convinced it can go far. Our supporters believe it too, and that confidence is essential.»
Looking ahead, the Moroccan coach warned against any sense of complacency as his side prepare to face Canada in the Round of 16.
«The next match won't be any easier. We'll be up against a great coach and a very good Canadian team. They'll cause us plenty of problems, and it will be up to us to find the solutions. But this group showed today that it is capable of rising to the challenge», he concluded.
