Walid Ouahbi on France's Opener and Morocco's Response
Walid Ouahbi walked off the pitch still replaying France’s opener in his mind. The game had been frantic, the margins thin, and he was convinced the first decisive moment should never have stood.
His anger was directed squarely at referee Facundo Tello. For Ouahbi, the sequence before Kylian Mbappé lashed the ball past Yassine Bounou contained a clear offence from Adrien Rabiot.
The Moroccan manager argued that the French midfielder had handled the ball in the build-up, a touch he believes changed everything.
“The goal came from a bit of a… shared ball, some people stopped because they saw a handball,” he told beIN Sports, still bristling from the incident. “It was a handball, I don’t know if it should have been called or not, I don’t know.”
Players hesitated. France did not. Mbappé pounced, and Morocco were punished.
Respect for France, and a turning tide
Ouahbi’s frustration with the decision never tipped into denial about the gulf in pedigree. He was clear: his side had been stretched to the limit by a team of serious quality.
“We have to admit that we played against a very good team,” the 49-year-old said. “We suffered a lot in the first half, and Bounou made a great save on the penalty.”
That first period felt like survival. Morocco chased, scrambled, and clung on. Bounou’s stop from the spot kept them alive and gave them a foothold that, at times, their play didn’t quite justify.
After the break, the tone shifted. The legs were still heavy, but the minds were clearer. Morocco started to hold the ball, to breathe, to play.
“In the second half, we defended better and, above all, we were more composed with the ball. We were much better,” Ouahbi noted. “In the first half, it seemed like some players were catching their breath. We saw that these same players started the second half well.”
The improvement was obvious: calmer passing, more control, fewer panicked clearances. France still threatened, but Morocco at least began to ask their own questions.
Pain, perspective, and the road ahead
The closing stages were brutal. Morocco pushed, France resisted, and the clock refused to slow down. When it finally did, the disappointment was raw.
“It was tough at the end, but I believe we must continue to believe, to work,” Ouahbi said. The sting of defeat sat alongside something more pragmatic: a recognition that this team is still being built, and that depth remains a problem.
“We must also continue to work on the basics, ensuring that when there are injuries, players who are less fresh, we can have a larger pool of players. We will continue, we will not stop here. We are very disappointed, we wanted more, but we have to accept it.”
One contentious goal, a penalty save, a second-half revival and a lesson in elite ruthlessness from France. Ouahbi left with grievances, yes, but also with a clear idea of what Morocco must become if they want nights like this to end differently.
