Morocco’s head coach Mohamed Ouahbi (left) celebrates with his players after they defeated the Netherlands. (AFP)
Doha, Qatar: Morocco coach Mohamed Ouabhi believes the belief forged during the Atlas Lions’ historic run to the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 semi-finals has transformed his side’s mentality, insisting they have what it takes to go even deeper in this year’s football showpiece after a dramatic last-16 qualification.
Morocco booked a Round of 16 meeting with Canada in Houston on Saturday after edging the Netherlands 3-2 on penalties following a gripping 1-1 draw after extra time in Monterrey.
The African champions controlled much of the contest but fell behind midway through the second half when Cody Gakpo struck for the Dutch.
Morocco refused to surrender and grabbed a stoppage-time equaliser through Issa Diop’s header before goalkeeper Yassine Bounou emerged as the hero in the shoot-out, saving Crysencio Summerville’s decisive penalty to leave Ismael Saibari with the winning kick.
Ouabhi said Morocco’s breakthrough campaign in Qatar four years ago had fundamentally changed the mindset of the players and supporters alike.
“The World Cup in Qatar changed the mentality of the Morocco team, and I’m well placed to speak about this,” Ouabhi said.
“Moroccan players believe in themselves and the supporters believe in us as well. They’re demanding because they know just how far we can go.”
The coach believes his players have the quality to surpass the achievements of the 2022 squad, provided they maintain the standards they have shown so far.
“What we need to be telling ourselves is no one can stop us. We’re unstoppable if we play the football that we know how to play,” he said.
“But nobody is unbeatable. If we get things wrong, we’ll go home. We have to use every tool in our arsenal to go as far as we can.”
Reflecting on the victory over the Netherlands, Ouabhi credited his players’ composure after they fell behind despite dominating possession and creating the better chances.
“It was a very tactical match. They defended with five at the back and closed down the spaces, so we had to be patient. Even after conceding, we believed we could come back, stayed composed and trusted our quality.”
He added: “We completely dominated the game with 70 percent possession, more shots and more clear chances. Their goalkeeper made exceptional saves, but this victory and our qualification were fully deserved.”
Hakimi said Morocco’s never-say-die attitude once again proved decisive.
“I’m very happy with our performance and this well-deserved victory. We maintained our fighting spirit and determination until the very last minute. Even when we were behind, we showed the identity of the Moroccan national team by fighting back and playing good football.”
The defender also highlighted Bounou’s decisive contribution in the shoot-out.
“We created many chances and controlled possession, but we couldn’t score. When it went to penalties, we were confident because we have Yassine Bounou. He’s a great goalkeeper with a lot of experience.”
“I’m proud of all the players. We represent African football, and we’re grateful to the fans for their support. We need our fans, and we’ll do everything we can to make them proud.”
