Mohamed Ouahbi's impact on Atlas Lions' offensive play evident despite lingering issues

Moroccan supporters, often frustrated by the Atlas Lions' performances against low and medium defensive blocks under Walid Regragui, observed changes under Mohamed Ouahbi. Despite a talented squad, the team struggled to break through well-organized defenses in recent matches, including friendlies, CAN 2025 qualifiers against teams like Mozambique, Niger, Benin, and Mauritania, and during the Africa Cup against Tanzania and Comoros. On Tuesday, fans were keen to see Ouahbi's solutions. The coach delivered, showcasing offensive diversification that led to four goals: one from a set piece, one from a recovery in the opponent's box, a penalty after a build-up, and a goal from a quick counter-attack. The Lions are now more unpredictable and vertical, though they still need to improve their finishing. In the first half alone, the team had more than three one-on-one opportunities with the opposing goalkeeper, but impulsiveness prevented a higher score at halftime. While Morocco faced the 104th-ranked team in FIFA, the new technical staff efficiently utilized available resources. The public saw more player permutations, increased versatility, and more effective ball recovery thanks to new player profiles. The midfield, bolstered by talented young players with impressive physical capabilities and high-level competition experience, has gained robustness and vision. Ayoub Bouaddi demonstrated his potential for significant responsibility in the first half, and Samir El Mourabet, a highly