Mohamed Ouahbi continued writing his success story with the Moroccan national team, after leading the 'Atlas Lions' to the quarter-finals of the 2026 World Cup, confirming the correctness of the Moroccan Football Federation's decision to trust him despite his recent tenure as a senior team coach.

Ouahbi is preparing for the biggest test of his coaching career so far, when he faces the French national team on Thursday in a highly anticipated match for a spot in the World Cup semi-finals.

From World Youth Champion to Leader of the Moroccan Dream

Mohamed Ouahbi's name was not among the top candidates to coach the senior Moroccan national team after Walid Regragui's departure, but his success in leading the Morocco U20 team to win the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Chile last year gave the Moroccan federation confidence in his project.

The irony was that this achievement came after eliminating the French team in the semi-finals, so Ouahbi finds himself facing France again, but this time on the World Cup stage for seniors.

Numbers Confirm the Success of the Experiment

Since taking charge last March, Ouahbi has played 10 matches with the Moroccan national team, achieving six wins and four draws, maintaining an unbeaten record, a tally that reflects the significant development the team has undergone in a short period.

His tactical decisions and match management have also received widespread praise, as he has succeeded in giving the team a clear character on the pitch.

A Long Journey in Developing Stars

Ouahbi, 49, is originally from the Belgian city of Schaarbeek to Moroccan parents, and began his coaching career at the Anderlecht Academy, where he spent 17 years developing young talents.

During that period, he helped hone a number of prominent European football stars, including Belgians Jérémy Doku and Youri Tielemans, as well as Moroccan international Bilal El Khannous.

He also worked as an assistant coach to Yannick Ferrera at Saudi club Al-Fateh, before joining the Moroccan Football Federation to oversee the youth national teams.

A New Identity for the Atlas Lions

Those close to the Moroccan national team believe that what distinguishes Ouahbi most is his adherence to his tactical ideas and his refusal to change his playing style based on the opponent.

Youssef Haji, a member of the Moroccan national team's coaching staff, said: 'Mohamed Ouahbi is committed to his footballing identity and does not allow the opponent to impose their style on us. Today, Morocco has a clear character on the pitch, and that is one of the most important reasons for the team's success.'

Ouahbi will play his eleventh match with the Moroccan national team against France, a special encounter as he seeks to maintain his unbeaten record and lead the 'Atlas Lions' to a new historic achievement by continuing the journey towards the 2026 World Cup semi-finals.