The coach of the Moroccan national team, Mohamed Wehbe, confirmed that the “Atlas Lions” will enter the match against France, scheduled for Thursday in the quarter-finals of the 2026 World Cup, with the mentality of winning only, refusing to consider reaching this round a sufficient achievement, and stressing that the real goal is to continue the journey until competing for the title.
During the press conference that precedes the match, Wehbe stressed that the current confrontation with France cannot be compared to the semi-finals of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, He explained that the two teams have changed significantly, and that the focus is on what the Moroccan team is currently offering and confidence in its ability to achieve victory.
He explained that the technical staff does not feel satisfied with what has been achieved so far, stressing that the message directed to the players was clear, which is to enter the match in order to qualify for the semi-finals, without paying attention to nominations or considering the loss to France as an acceptable result.
Wehbe revealed that all players are ready to participate except for Ismail Al-Sibari, who still needs more time. To recover, he expressed his hope that he will join the next rounds if the team continues its progress in the tournament.
He added that the method of work of the technical staff does not change regardless of the name of the opponent, pointing out that preparation for matches always depends on tactical discipline, technical analysis and mental preparation, considering that continuity of work is the key to success.
The coach of the Moroccan national team expressed his satisfaction with the appointment of the match referee, stressing the importance of respecting the referees’ decisions, and also praised the continuous support provided by them. It is presented by the President of the Royal Moroccan Football Federation, Fawzi Lakjaa, describing him as a source of great motivation for the mission and the first believer in the team’s ability to achieve achievements.
The press conference witnessed a delay for a few minutes after a dispute broke out between a Moroccan and a French journalist inside the hall, before the organizing committee intervened to contain the situation and restore calm.
After the incident ended, the conference was launched in the presence of Mohamed Wehbe and Ibrahim Diaz, who confirmed that the Moroccan national team is continuing its preparations in a positive atmosphere, with Full focus on providing the best performance against France, and continuing to write history by reaching the semi-finals of the 2026 World Cup.