FIFA World Cup 2026: Morocco has earned the world’s respect after beating the Netherlands, says coach Ouahbi

Morocco coach Mohamed Ouahbi said his side had earned respect after knocking the Netherlands out of the World Cup on penalties on Monday. He added that his players were fueled by a desire to make the millions watching home proud.

Morocco defeated the Netherlands 3-2 on penalties after a 1-1 draw to reach the last 16, where they will play co-host Canada.

Ismael Saibari converted the winning penalty after goalkeeper Yassine Bounou saved Crysencio Summerville’s effort.

“Morocco has now won everyone’s respect,” Ouahbi told reporters. «It’s not because of what we said. We’ve shown it now.»

The coach, who quit the Moroccan under-20 squad after helping the country’s youth teams to success, said his players were driven by something bigger than just football.

“This team, and all Moroccan youth teams, are fighting for much, much more than just football or simply winning a match,” he said.

«They know there are millions and millions of people behind them. We played when it was two in the morning in Morocco and we’re sure most people stayed awake. That gives you the energy not to give up, to keep going and to believe in yourself.»

Ouahbi said Morocco had dominated the match despite needing penalties to progress.

“We completely dominated a Dutch team,” he said.

«We had 70% possession, more shots and more expected goals. We were in control of the match,» he added.

«We wanted to stay calm, play our game and believe that if it came to penalties, we had an exceptional goalkeeper. We didn’t turn the game into a chaotic battle. We kept the game under control.»

Ouahbi said the Netherlands’ defensive approach came as a surprise, but saw it as a recognition of Morocco’s growing status.

Netherlands vs Morocco – Player Ratings

“I really didn’t expect this kind of low-block, because the Netherlands likes to have the ball and is very strong,” he said. “I saw this kind of play as a form of respect.”

The 49-year-old felt Morocco’s participation in the 2022 World Cup semi-finals in Qatar had changed the country’s mentality.

“In recent years, Moroccan players believe in themselves and the supporters also believe in us,” he said.

Ouahbi warned that Canada would face another stern test in the last 16, but said Morocco would approach the knockout match with confidence.

“No one can stop us if we play the football we know how to play,” he said. «But no one is unbeatable. If we do something wrong, we go home.»

Published on June 30, 2026