Ouahbi praises players' mental strength after World Cup 2026 qualification against the Netherlands
via Le Matin2 min read
Moroccan coach Mohamed Ouahbi lauded his team's mental fortitude following their qualification for the 2026 World Cup after defeating the Netherlands. Ouahbi admitted his team struggled in the first 45 minutes, finding the Dutch side's playstyle and compact organization surprising and different from his expectations. He explained that the coaching staff found solutions at halftime, which the players executed perfectly. Ouahbi expressed immense pride in his players' combativeness and character, highlighting their refusal to give up even in difficult moments. He also commended the substitutes for their significant contributions, emphasizing that their readiness to make a difference is a strength of the team. Despite creating numerous chances, Morocco faced an exceptional Dutch goalkeeper before securing qualification in a penalty shootout. Ouahbi reassured that Chadi Riad, who left the game due to injury, only sustained a minor knock and is expected to recover quickly. He also praised Issa Diop for scoring a decisive goal, noting his calm demeanor and belief that Diop would score in an important match. Ouahbi stressed the meticulous preparation by his technical staff for all scenarios and the team's long-standing belief in their potential, shared by the public. Looking ahead, Ouahbi remains grounded, acknowledging that the next match against Canada will be challenging but expressing confidence in his team's ability to overcome new hurdles.
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Dutch media outlets, including the public broadcaster NOS, the daily Algemeen Dagblad AD, De Telegraaf, and ESPN.nl, have acknowledged Morocco's deserved victory over the Netherlands in the 2026 World Cup round of sixteen. NOS stated that Morocco was the better team and that the Dutch were dominated by the African champions, particularly in midfield. The media group noted that Netherlands coach Ronald Koeman's decision to switch to a five-man defense, a first in two years, demonstrated the respect Morocco's team commanded. This tactical change aimed to counter the Atlas Lions' strengths after the Netherlands' defensive struggles in the group stage. NOS also observed that this defeat continues the Netherlands' long series of failures against major global football nations. AD reported that the Netherlands simply failed to gain a technical advantage over the Moroccans, who dictated the pace of the match in Monterrey, Mexico. De Telegraaf echoed this sentiment, stating that Morocco played the kind of football the Netherlands was expected to develop. ESPN.nl concluded that Morocco abruptly ended the Netherlands' World Cup dream in an exciting match.
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