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Morocco's head coach, Mohamed Ouahbi, lauded his players' adaptability following their 3-0 triumph over Canada on Saturday in Houston, securing a spot in the 2026 World Cup round of 16. He commended their resilience against a notably high-intensity opponent.
«The match was intense. The Canadian players maintained that intensity, but they became less effective in the second half», Ouahbi stated during the post-match press conference.
The Moroccan coach acknowledged Canada’s aggressive press, yet it did not take his team by surprise. «Canada didn’t surprise us. I’d mentioned before that they were tough opponents. They were very well organized», he noted.
He attributed the shift in momentum to the half-time adjustments made by the Atlas Lions. «As we did against the Netherlands, we analyzed their play at half-time and adapted. We knew they were leaving spaces we could exploit», he explained.
Ouahbi also emphasized his team's ability to navigate challenging periods. «In a World Cup, you inevitably encounter tough moments. We struggled at times but showed resilience. We had to remain calm and make necessary adjustments», he remarked.
Ahead of the quarter-final clash with the winner of the France-Paraguay match, the coach asserted that his team’s ambition remains unchanged. «Our objective is the same, but our priority is to stay fresh and ready. Regardless of the opponent, we maintain the same desire to win. Both France and Paraguay pose challenges», he commented.
