Morocco will return to action on Tuesday afternoon when the Atlas Lions face Lesotho in their second match of the AFCON 2027 qualifiers at Toyota Stadium in Bloemfontein, South Africa.
After opening their campaign with a 2–0 victory over Gabon, Mohamed Ouahbi's side will be looking to build on that result and strengthen their position at the top of the group. Lesotho, meanwhile, began their campaign with a 2–1 defeat to Niger.
Speaking at his pre-match press conference in Bloemfontein on Monday, the national team coach addressed Morocco's adaptation to South Africa, the integration of young players, the importance of respecting Lesotho and the latest injury situation.
Adapting Without Making Excuses
The long journey to South Africa has presented a different set of conditions for the Moroccan squad, but the coach does not want those factors to become distractions.
Ouahbi acknowledged that the environment is different, but insisted that the players must remain focused on their own football and adapt quickly.
The message was clear: Morocco must concentrate on solutions rather than excuses, regardless of the temperature, the pitch or any other external factor.
The coach also highlighted the progress made by Lesotho in recent years and called for full respect for Tuesday's opponents.
Taking Lesotho Seriously
Morocco enter the match as the more highly regarded side on paper, but Ouahbi rejected the idea that being considered favourites should change the team's approach.
The Lesotho national team currently sits 150th in the FIFA rankings and has never qualified for the Africa Cup of Nations. However, the Moroccan coach believes those details should have no influence on the team's mentality.
For him, the best way to avoid complacency is simple: take the match seriously, work for every ball and respect the opponent.
- “You have to run, make the effort and respect the opponent.”
That mentality will be particularly important in an away fixture, where Morocco will have to deal with unfamiliar conditions while trying to maintain the intensity that brought them victory against Gabon.
Young Players Being Given Time to Grow
The opening match against Gabon also offered opportunities to several younger members of the squad, including Yassir Zabiri and Ali Maamar, who were handed senior international opportunities.
The coaching staff are continuing to introduce a new generation into the national team environment, but Ouahbi stressed that development cannot happen instantly.
He described the integration of the newcomers as a process and explained that young players must be given the opportunity to learn, including through mistakes.
The coach also made it clear that places in the squad will continue to be earned through performances. Those who demonstrate that they deserve to remain involved will have their opportunities, while others will need to