The head coach of Morocco’s U-20 national football team, Mohamed Ouahbi, emphasized on Friday that the team’s primary objective is to advance past the group stage of the upcoming FIFA U-20 World Cup, which will be held from September 27 to October 19 in Chile.
During a press conference held at the Mohammed VI Football Complex in Salé to announce the squad selected for this global competition, Ouahbi stated that the players are eager to participate in this world tournament and fear no opponent, underlining that they are driven by a strong determination to play a leading role.
The national coach pointed out that Group C, consisting of Morocco, Spain, Brazil, and Mexico, is the toughest in the tournament, given the high caliber and talent of the players in those teams. He stressed that the battle for qualification to the second round would be intense.
Highlighting that the Moroccan team “will face teams with different playing styles,” Ouahbi affirmed that “the Moroccan players are determined to present the best possible image of Moroccan football.”
The coach also expressed his satisfaction with the positive atmosphere within the national team, praising the good international reputation of the Atlas Lions, “as was confirmed during the friendly matches, where every team we faced showed us great respect.”
Regarding the list of players called up for the World Cup in Chile, Ouahbi explained that the initial list included around 55 players before narrowing it down to 21. He noted that he made a point of giving opportunities to players who didn’t participate in the last Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt, allowing them enough time during friendly matches to prove their capabilities and readiness to join the national squad.
“We selected the most ready players,” he added, noting that he faced challenges convincing several European clubs that refused to release their players for the tournament.
“We based our selection on several criteria, especially the players’ current form and technical level. Some positions were highly competitive,” he explained, noting that he chose players who delivered the best performances, whether during the Africa Cup or in recent training camps.
The U20 World Cup draw placed the Atlas Cubs in Group C alongside Spain, Brazil, and Mexico. The Atlas Cubs will play their first match against Spain on Sunday, September 28, before facing Brazil on October 2, and concluding the group stage against Mexico two days later.
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