Ouahbi Remains Proud Despite Morocco's Elimination by France: 'We Represented Africa and Asia'

Morocco's national team coach Mohamed Ouahbi accepted his team's 0-2 defeat against France in the 2026 World Cup quarterfinals with grace. He acknowledged the superior quality of the French team, especially highlighting the individual performance of Kylian Mbappé as a key factor in the outcome.

"We have to admit we faced a very good opponent. We really struggled in the first half, and Bounou's penalty save kept us in the game," Ouahbi stated, referring to goalkeeper Yassine Bounou's crucial save against Mbappé in the first half. He recognized that this moment allowed Morocco to remain competitive.

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We have to admit we faced a very good opponent. We really struggled in the first half, and Bounou's penalty save kept us in the game.

According to Ouahbi, Morocco's performance improved significantly after halftime. The players displayed more composure on the ball and maintained better defensive discipline. However, he ultimately attributed the decisive difference in the match to Mbappé's "brilliant individual actions."

Ouahbi also pointed to the limitations in Morocco's squad depth. Injuries, player absences, and fatigue meant that his options from the bench were not as extensive as he would have preferred, impacting the team's ability to respond to the challenges posed by France.

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We defended better in the second half and were calmer with the ball. In the end, everything was decided by Mbappé's brilliant individual actions.