Mohamed Ouahbi, the technical director of the Moroccan national team, expressed his great happiness with the qualification of the 'Atlas Lions' to the quarter-finals of the 2026 World Cup, after a deserved victory over Canada (3-0), in the match held on Friday evening at the 'NRG Stadium' in the American city of Houston, as part of the Round of 16 of the tournament.

Ouahbi said in statements to 'beIN Sports' after the match: 'Yes, our main goal was to qualify. I also expected a certain playing style from our side. The Canadian team exploited opportunities well; their performance was impressive, but I was pleased with our reaction. We managed to hurt them in the second half.'

He added: 'If you want to reach advanced stages, you have to go through tough times, but I am very happy. The desire was present; it was a match that drained a lot of our energy.'

Ouahbi added that the performance in the second half reflected the character of the Moroccan team and its ability to handle pressure, noting that the team showed great tactical maturity and deserved the victory. He also stressed that the next stage requires more focus and strong mental preparation to continue the journey towards the semi-finals.

Regarding the upcoming match in the quarter-finals, Ouahbi said confidently: 'France or Paraguay? It doesn't change anything for us. We are ready, whoever the opponent,' referring to the Moroccan team's readiness to face any competitor with the same spirit and determination that led them to this new achievement.