Morocco are looking to build upon a semi-final showing at Qatar 2022
Mohamed Ouahbi’s side take on Brazil, Scotland and Haiti in Group C
Keepers Yassine Bounou and Reda Tagnaouti spoke to FIFA ahead of their third World Cup together
Following their sensational run at Qatar 2022™ when they became the first African side to reach the FIFA World Cup™ semi-finals, the Atlas Lions are set to tackle a far greater challenge in North America as they seek to do it all over again.
“The quality of the players is still there,” goalkeeper Yassine Bounou told FIFA. “The right mindset will also be there because it’s a World Cup, and every player dreams of playing in it. For some, this might be the last one. For others, it will be their first time.”
Morocco will soon be in the thick of the action again, and they will quickly find out whether they can shake up the world order once more as the draw has pitted them against Brazil in a seismic Group C opener in New York New Jersey before they go on to face Scotland and Haiti.
While the Moroccans are champing at the bit to get their campaign under way against the tournament’s most successful side, their long-serving shot-stopper is keeping his feet firmly on the ground.
“Let’s be honest: there are teams that are bigger favourites than us. We, for our part, have been on this path of progress since 2022, so, let’s try to carry that on. After that, there’s no telling how far we might go.”
The Atlas Lions were 22nd in the when they set off for Qatar. They are currently sitting eighth, positioned behind Brazil and the Netherlands, and just ahead of Belgium and Germany, who are hot on their heels. Mohamed Ouahbi’s charges will certainly notice a change in their opponents’ attitude when they come up against them – something that Bounou is all too aware of.
“We feel that we’re still respected, and that must give us confidence,” he insisted. “I think there’s a sense of belief that we perhaps didn’t feel before, as an African team.”
It is not just Morocco’s standing that has changed, however, as there is also a new face in the Atlas Lions’ dugout, with Ouahbi having taken over from Walid Regragui in March. There is no intention to change the team’s approach though, and once again the North Africans will be relying on their exceptional team spirit, as summed up by Reda Tagnaouti, who is set to be Morocco’s third-choice goalkeeper for a third World Cup in a row.
“On the day we arrived in Qatar, we sensed something,” revealed Tagnaouti, a runner-up in the CAF Champions League with ASFAR last month. “Normally, when you spend nearly a month and a half in a bubble, there are some days when sparks fly with your team-mates in training. There was none of that. We were an exceptional group, and we had our friends and family with us. That’s why we achieved so much.”
“In 2022, the atmosphere was indeed incredible,” continued Bounou. “We were all determined to make our mark on the history of Moroccan and African football.”
Morocco’s recent success has been built on a rock-solid defence, marshalled superbly by Bounou. Since impressing in Qatar, where he conceded just once in his country’s first five matches before the Atlas Lions succumbed 2-0 to France in the semis and 2-1 to Croatia in the match for third place, Bounou has not let up in the slightest. In his last 37 appearances for the national team, the Al Hilal man has picked the ball out of the net just 14 times, at an average of 0.37 goals per game.
At 35, the former Sevilla goalkeeper has perhaps never been a more assured presence.
“I’m possibly a little better prepared mentally, thanks to my experience,” admitted the Canada-born keeper. “My main goal is to approach the competition with a real sense of enjoyment, to give it my all, and above all, to have no regrets.”
Another factor that illustrates Morocco’s current good form and unshakeable team spirit is the chemistry between the first-choice players and their back-ups. Everyone seems to have a clear understanding of their role and is fulfilling it to perfection.
“Some players won’t play. I didn’t play [at the 2022 edition], which is normal, as I’m the third-choice keeper,” explained Tagnaouti. “But you need to stay motivated because you tell yourself that if Yassine gets injured – which we certainly hope doesn’t happen – and if Munir [El Kajoui, the second-choice custodian] picks up a booking, for example, you have to stay focused. So, you do your best every day, and when you train properly and act professionally, you see the results. We are one big team.”
The CAF heavyweights are clearly approaching the World Cup with genuine optimism. Regardless of what fate may hold in store, Bounou is certain of one thing: “At the 2026 World Cup, Morocco will make their mark on world football, once again.
"I’m sure the Moroccan people will be proud of and pleased with the team. Let’s hope we can pull off something really, really big again, just like we did in 2022.”
Sources: FIFA Official
