World Cup 2026: Mohamed Ouahbi expresses pride in Morocco despite their departure in the quarter-finals against France.

[caption id="attachment_1321584" align="alignnone" width="1024"] Morocco's head coach Mohamed Ouahbi gestures during the 2026 World Cup football tournament quarter-final match between France and Morocco at Boston Stadium in Foxborough on July 9, 2026. (Photo by CHARLY TRIBALLEAU / AFP via Getty Images)[/caption] Morocco's journey in the World Cup concluded in disappointment, yet Mohamed Ouahbi departed the field with pride in his team's performance following a 2-0 defeat to France on Thursday evening. He expressed that the outcome stung because the squad aspired for greater achievements, but he emphasized that this campaign would not be defined by a single loss. "We are quite disheartened because we had higher expectations, but we must accept this outcome. This defeat will not deter us, and we will persist in our efforts," he stated. Ouahbi clarified that Morocco did not enter the match intending to adopt a defensive stance. He believed that France's control of possession, rapid combinations, and wide attacks compelled Morocco to retreat for extended periods. He also acknowledged that the team found it challenging to establish their play in the first half, particularly when attempting to transition quickly. "Indeed, we encountered obstacles in advancing the ball during attacking transitions in the first half, which was our main issue. However, things improved significantly in the second half, despite the same players being on the field; it was crucial to communicate to the players the need for greater effort, off-the-ball movement, and making runs that could stretch the opponent's defense, allowing us to progress the ball." The coach remarked that the second half showed marked improvement, even with the same players present. He underscored the necessity for Morocco to continue developing, expand its player pool, and refrain from using injuries as a justification. Ouahbi concluded by stating that the team requires rest before the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers in September and maintained his belief that Morocco's resilient spirit could lead to future trophies.