Morocco head coach Mohamed Ouahbi said on Tuesday in Atlanta that his primary objective remains securing victory against Haiti in the third and final Group C match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, while also keeping top spot in the group firmly in sight.
Speaking at the pre-match press conference ahead of Wednesday’s encounter at Atlanta Stadium, Ouahbi said his coaching staff is focused on fielding “the best team possible”, while noting that no final decision has yet been made regarding the starting lineup.
“We are practically qualified, but not mathematically yet. I have not decided on the team that will start against Haiti. It may be the same lineup as in the first two matches, or we may make a few changes”, he said.
The Moroccan coach stressed the importance of approaching the match with utmost seriousness despite Haiti’s elimination from the tournament.
“Haiti, even though eliminated, will play a good match. As far as we are concerned, our first objective is to win. After that, we can think about how many goals we might score. We must field the best team possible, respect our opponent and give our maximum, just as we did in our previous two matches”, he said.
Reflecting on his team’s attacking performance, Ouahbi expressed satisfaction with the progress made so far, believing that Morocco’s offensive potential will continue to develop as the tournament advances.
“Offensively, we are on the right track. We will continue to grow and score more goals. We also have other forwards with different profiles who can contribute a great deal to the national team”, he noted.
The coach emphasized that his selection choices are determined primarily by the requirements of each individual match.
“The decision to start certain players instead of others depends above all on the context of the game. What pleases me is that all the players are ready to play and demonstrate that every day in training”, he said.
According to Ouahbi, the team’s mindset has been one of the most encouraging aspects since the start of the tournament.
“All the players want to improve and go as far as possible in this competition. I always see the positives, and the positive today is that we are making progress”, he stated.
Addressing the importance of finishing first in the group, Ouahbi was unequivocal: “I want to beat Haiti and finish first. It may allow us to avoid certain travel arrangements. But if we have to go to Monterrey, we will go to Monterrey and we will deal with it”.
- Source: MAP