Rabat: “We gave it our all,” said national team coach Mohamed Ouahbi after Morocco’s loss to France in the quarterfinals of the 2026 World Cup. He expressed pride in the Atlas Lions, highlighting their remarkable run, which underscores the steady progress of Moroccan football.

According to Agence Marocaine De Presse, Ouahbi praised his players’ commitment and spirit during the postgame press conference. He emphasized that this loss does not undermine the Atlas Lions’ ambitions and congratulated the French team for being a “truly great squad.”

Ouahbi acknowledged the strength of their opponents, stating, “We gave it our all. We tried everything. We wanted to perform better with the ball, but the French put a lot of pressure on us. They had the best chances and were superior at the key moments.”

The national team coach chose not to focus solely on this single match but rather on the progress made since assuming the role of head coach. “I am very proud of what we have achieved. I am pleasantly surprised by how quickly the players have embraced my playing philosophy. They have shown an exemplary attitude and a tremendous desire to improve,” he said.

Mohamed Ouahbi urged his team to learn from this elimination to continue their development. “We have to keep moving forward, be self-critical, hold our heads high, and come back even stronger. This elimination won’t dampen our ambition. We want to continue building on what we’ve achieved at this World Cup and aim for the highest goals.”