​Morocco have not laid out any special plans for their World Cup quarter-final against France, but coach Mohamed Ouahbi says his side will need to match their heavily fancied opponents across the board. Speaking on Wednesday, Ouahbi stressed that there will be no secret approach and that his team must be ready to confront a team widely regarded as one of the tournament’s strongest contenders.
Key to Morocco’s preparation is coping without striker Ismael Saibari, who sustained a hamstring injury in the last-16 victory over Canada and will miss Thursday’s game. “He’s not ready, but I hope it’s not the end of the tournament for him,” Ouahbi told a press conference. Saibari had been a prolific presence in the group stage, scoring in all three matches and delivering the decisive penalty in the shootout win over the Netherlands in the round of 16.
In detailing how Morocco intend to approach the match, Ouahbi was clear that there would be no surprises. “Regarding preparation for the match, there will not be any surprises. I have nothing to hide. I’m not someone who likes surprises, and those of you who have studied our games know that we have a clear idea of how we want to play,” he said. He added that the objective is to hurt France when they have possession, but that attacking play cannot be limited to the wings. “We have to be patient with the ball, and find where we can go through on the sides or in the centre. We’ve proven that we can hurt any team, and that’s the goal. But I’m not going to go into too many details,” he added.
The match carries extra significance for Morocco given that France defeated them in the 2022 World Cup semi-finals in Qatar. Yet Ouahbi was quick to remind reporters that every knockout tie has its own context. “Every match is different, has its own context, its own history, and it won’t be the same as in 2022,” he said. He emphasised that the current Moroccan squad represents a different team from four years ago, and that both nations have continued to develop. “We will face a different French team than the one from four years ago. Both teams are even better, and that’s normal because we are two federations, two countries that work very well,” he explained.
When pressed about the extent of progress made to reach the last eight, Ouahbi pushed back against the notion that simply advancing this far equated to achievement. “I always like to say that we’ll take stock of the situation at the end of the tournament. We’re not going to listen to people who say, ‘Oh, it’s great what you’ve done so far.’ France may be favourites, but we will do everything possible to win. Being at this stage is not a bonus. The bonus is to win the World Cup,” he stated with a steady resolve.
The coaches’ confidence comes as Morocco prepare for a daunting test against a French side who are widely regarded as one of the strongest teams left in the competition. Ouahbi’s insistence on a disciplined, patient, and multi-faceted approach reflects a plan built on organization and resilience, as well as an insistence on exploiting any opportunities that arise in the absence of Saibari’s influence.
Beyond the tactical talk, the atmosphere around the squad remains focused. Ouahbi’s remarks reflect a belief that Morocco can compete with France in all departments, provided they execute their game plan and adapt to the French threat. With Saibari sidelined, attention will likely turn to how the squad reallocates attacking responsibility and how other players step up to fill the void left by the injured forward.
As the quarter-final showdown looms, Morocco’s path to continuing this World Cup journey will hinge on collective effort, strategic discipline, and the ability to threaten a high-calibre opponent in multiple ways. Ouahbi’s message to his team and supporters has been clear: there is no room for complacency, but there is also a strong belief that Morocco can rise to the occasion and, if all goes well, push further in this tournament than many had predicted at the outset.