Achraf Hakimi of Morocco is tackled by Netherlands defender Micky van der Ven during their World Cup round-of-32 match.
Image: Xinhua via IANS
Head coach Mohamed Ouabhi believes his team is primed to mount a deep run at the FIFA World Cup, boldly declaring that the Atlas Lions could be "unstoppable" if they consistently play to their full collective potential.
The Moroccans, who famously captured global attention as beaten semi-finalists at the 2022 World Cup, advanced to the round of 16 on Monday night after winning a thrilling, high-stakes knockout battle with the Netherlands on penalties in Monterrey. It was another highly stylish display by the African champions, who dominated territorial possession for long periods in a gripping match that ultimately finished 1-1 following extra-time.
Ouabhi insists that Moroccan football is now reaping the immense rewards of the 2022 senior squad's groundbreaking exploits in Qatar, where they became the first African nation in history to reach a World Cup semi-final.
"The World Cup in Qatar completely transformed the core mentality of the Morocco national team, and I am incredibly well placed to speak about this," said Ouabhi, who last year masterminded Morocco's momentous title charge at the Under-20 World Cup in Chile.
"Moroccan players based at home believe implicitly in themselves now, and the supporters, the fans, believe in us as well. That shift is so important. Our public are demanding, yes, but it is purely because they recognise just how far we can go on the global stage."
Morocco now travel to face tournament co-hosts Canada in the round of 16, with a potential, blockbusting quarter-final meeting against France looming large on the horizon. Ouabhi was adamant there would be absolutely no room for complacency when squaring off against the North Americans.
"We know that we have to take it fixture after fixture," the tactician warned. "People on the outside look at the bracket and think that it is going to be easy for us, that it's going to be a simple walk in the park for Morocco. That is absolutely not the case. Canada are a highly resilient team that will make life exceptionally difficult for us."
However, Ouabhi firmly believes that Morocco possess the raw components to eclipse the historic achievements of the 2022 side if they hit top gear in the knockout rounds.
"What we need to be telling ourselves internally is that no one can stop us," he asserted. "We are genuinely unstoppable if we play the fluid brand of football that we know how to play.
"But on the flip side, nobody is completely unbeatable. I tell my boys that constantly as well. If we get our tactical details wrong, we will be packing our bags for home. We need to ensure that we are using every single tool at our disposal, the tools in our arsenal, to go as far as we possibly can. That is the elite mentality we want every player in Morocco to adopt."
Meanwhile, defeated Netherlands head coach Ronald Koeman conceded that Morocco's ongoing emergence as a global powerhouse reflects a wider, rapid rise in the quality of African football.
"It is very clear when watching the tactical evolution at this World Cup that African teams have greatly improved in a structural sense, and also in the mature way they manage their matches," Koeman reflected post-match.
"Morocco is a country that, in terms of raw talent, continually generates exceptional young players who seamlessly transition into the major elite clubs in Europe. It is certainly not without reason that they currently command a higher position than the Netherlands in the global rankings."
AFP