Morocco's Coach Praises Team After Narrow Win Over Scotland in World Cup

In a thrilling match, Morocco secured a 1-0 victory over Scotland in the FIFA World Cup 2026, with coach Mohamed Ouahbi praising his team's improved performance. Ismael Saibari's record-setting goal in the second minute set the tone for the match. Despite facing challenges, including ongoing legal issues surrounding captain Achraf Hakimi, the team remains focused on their next game against Haiti. With four points from two matches, Morocco is well-positioned to advance, but they aim to secure a win to finish at the top of their group.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jun 20, 2026, 11:20 IST

Morocco's Victory Over Scotland

Morocco's head coach, Mohamed Ouahbi, expressed his satisfaction with the team's performance following their 1-0 victory against Scotland in the FIFA World Cup 2026. He noted that this match showcased an improvement compared to their earlier game against Brazil.

The North African team achieved a vital win in Group C on Friday, with Ismael Saibari scoring just 71 seconds into the match, marking the fastest goal of the tournament at that time. Morocco's disciplined approach allowed them to maintain their lead and secure four points from two matches.

Coach's Assessment of the Match

Despite the praise received for their 1-1 draw against Brazil, Ouahbi believed that his players demonstrated better control and efficiency against Scotland. He stated, "We controlled the entire game, and in terms of efficiency, I found it better than the first match. We are pleased with the outcome; our goal was to secure three points, and we achieved that."

Morocco dominated significant portions of the game but failed to score a second goal, which allowed Scotland to press for an equalizer in the final moments. Ouahbi remarked, "While we managed the game well, not scoring a second goal meant we had to defend against Scotland's aggressive long balls. Nonetheless, I am very pleased with our performance."

Hakimi's Legal Troubles

The match was somewhat overshadowed by the ongoing legal issues surrounding Morocco's captain, Achraf Hakimi. The defender faced boos from parts of the audience after a French appeals court confirmed he would face trial in a rape case, which he has denied.

Ouahbi, however, emphasized that this situation did not impact Hakimi or the team's morale. "Hakimi played exceptionally well. He had a strong performance, and we are all quite relaxed, especially him," the coach stated.

Looking Ahead to the Haiti Match

With four points from two matches, Morocco is in a favorable position to progress to the knockout stage, although they have not yet secured their spot mathematically. Their final Group C match is scheduled against Haiti in Atlanta on Wednesday.

Ouahbi confirmed that the team would aim for victory rather than making significant rotations for the last group game. "Our goal is to win and ideally finish first in the group. I will select the best team possible, depending on the players' physical readiness," he concluded.

Morocco's World Cup Journey So Far

Morocco began their World Cup journey with a 1-1 draw against Brazil, followed by a 1-0 win over Scotland, enhancing their chances of advancing to the next round.