Mohamed Ouahbi had every reason to be satisfied after Morocco delivered an impressive 5-1 victory over Niger in the third round of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.
Back in Casablanca in front of an enthusiastic crowd at the Mohammed V Stadium, the Atlas Lions produced an entertaining performance, led by an outstanding Achraf Hakimi, who celebrated his return with a brace.
The evening also brought important attacking contributions from Yassir Zabiri, Youssef En-Nesyri and young debutant Ayoub Oufkir. Morocco strengthened their position at the top of Group A with nine points, extending their perfect start to the qualifying campaign.
Speaking after the match, Ouahbi expressed his satisfaction with the team's overall performance, particularly the intensity and attacking principles he had been working to establish.
Intensity, Pressing and Attacking Ambition
The Moroccan coach explained that his players followed the tactical instructions, particularly in terms of aggressive pressing, counter-pressing and making better use of attacking opportunities.
- "As we wanted, we played with a lot of intensity and scored early. We wanted to be very aggressive, with constant pressing and also a strong presence in counter-pressing," Ouahbi explained.
He also highlighted the importance of getting more players into the opposition penalty area and making every attacking opportunity count.
These were among the main areas the coaching staff had targeted for improvement, and the performance against Niger offered encouraging signs that the team is beginning to implement those ideas.
For Ouahbi, the most satisfying aspect was seeing the players translate their work on the training ground into the intensity and attacking football displayed in Casablanca.
The Disallowed Goal and a Moment of Concern
Despite Morocco's dominance, the encounter was not entirely straightforward.
The Atlas Lions appeared to have scored a third goal through Abdessamad Ezzalzouli, but the effort was ruled out. Niger subsequently found a way back into the match, making the score 2-1 before Morocco restored their two-goal advantage.
Ouahbi acknowledged that the sequence could have been handled better by his players.
- "The 3-0 goal was disallowed, and I don't know how. Nevertheless, it was our responsibility, and it allowed them to come back to 2-1. But we managed to respond with the 3-1 and get ourselves back into the game," he said.
His comments reflected a balanced assessment: satisfaction with the result, but also an understanding that Morocco must avoid giving opponents opportunities to regain confidence.
What Morocco Must Improve Before the Next Match
Although the second half was managed more comfortably, Ouahbi identified two important tactical areas requiring further attention.
The first concerns the organisation of the high press. Morocco want to apply pressure consistently, but doing so requires coordination between the attacking players and the defensive line.
The second is maintaining compact team structures, particularly when opponents attempt to escape the pressure or exploit spaces between the lines.
- "In the second half, we managed the game better and created better opportunities. That's very good. For the next matches, we need to manage our high pressing better and keep our blocks more compact," the coach explained.
These adjustments will be important as Morocco face stronger opposition and prepare for the demands of the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations.
“We Enjoyed Ourselves and Made the Supporters Happy”
Beyond the tactical analysis, Ouahbi was particularly pleased with the atmosphere and the connection between the players and the supporters.
The return to Casablanca provided the perfect setting for an entertaining Moroccan performance, with the home crowd creating an electric atmosphere throughout the evening.
- "We brought excitement to the match, we won it, we enjoyed ourselves and made the supporters happy, while also showing our opponents that winning in Morocco is never easy," he concluded.
The statement captured the spirit of a memorable night at the Mohammed V Stadium, where the Atlas Lions combined attacking quality with an important collective performance.
Rabat Awaits: Another Opportunity to Confirm Morocco's Progress
Morocco will now turn their attention to the return fixture against Niger, scheduled for Tuesday, November 17, at the Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat.
Another victory would strengthen their position in Group A and move them closer to securing qualification for AFCON 2027, which will be jointly hosted by Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda.
For Ouahbi, the next challenge will be to reproduce the intensity and attacking ambition shown in Casablanca while improving the team's defensive organisation and pressing structure.
The 5-1 victory delivered goals, confidence and excitement. Now, Mohamed Ouahbi wants to see the Atlas Lions turn that performance into consistency as their journey towards AFCON 2027 continues.