After the 2026 World Cup: Mohamed Ouahbi’s four key challenges

Rarely has a four‑year cycle carried such strategic importance for the national team. The challenge now is to take a team firmly established among the world’s elite to a new level.

The resumption is scheduled for the September 2026 international window. Morocco will immediately return to competitive action with the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers. Drawn in Group A alongside Gabon, Niger, and Lesotho, the Atlas Lions will play their six qualifying matches across three closely spaced periods.

The first two matchdays are scheduled between September 21 and October 6, 2026. The next two games will be played from November 9 to 17, before the final two games take place from March 22 to 30, 2027. The top two teams in the group will qualify for the final tournament.

The main challenge for Mohamed Ouahbi will be of a mental and collective nature: rallying the team after the disappointment of the World Cup, raising standards, and laying the tactical foundations for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations final tournament, to be held in East Africa (Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania).

Mohamed Ouahbi's Tactical Challenges

If the 2026 World Cup campaign confirmed the competitiveness of the Atlas Lions, it also highlighted several key priorities that the coach must successfully address ahead of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations and the major 2030 milestone.

To tackle these challenges, the coach has a valuable asset: his in-depth knowledge of Morocco’s talent pool, gained during his time in charge of the U20 national team.

In attack, the absolute priority will be to develop a world-class striker, as Morocco is still searching for a proven No. 9 capable of physically challenging opposing defenses and making the difference in tight games. Given the scarcity of such profiles, their emergence will require rigorous scouting and gradual integration into the national team.

Behind him, the attack would benefit from having a true playmaker capable of dictating the tempo, taking creative responsibility in decisive moments, and unlocking defenses against compact low blocks.

The defensive unit also requires adjustments. Mohamed Ouahbi will need to strengthen his central defense by developing reliable alternatives, but the right flank remains the main question mark: indispensable and constantly involved, Achraf Hakimi currently lacks a replacement at a similar level who can provide competition or cover.

For the coach, the challenge will be to find the right balance between continuity and renewal. The objective is not to disrupt a team that has proven itself on the world stage, but to gradually introduce healthy competition and expand tactical options ahead of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations and the 2030 World Cup.

This transition is even more viable given the team’s remarkable stability. Unlike nations forced into a complete rebuild after a World Cup, the Atlas Lions can rely on a young core already accustomed to the demands of elite-level football.

Key figures such as Noussair Mazraoui, Neil El Aynaoui, Bilal El Khannouss, Ismaël Saibari, Azzeddine Ounahi, and Chadi Riad are expected to remain part of the squad in 2030. This structural continuity gives the coaching staff the opportunity to build over time, refining team chemistry rather than starting from scratch.

In addition to talent identification and integration, the next cycle must also be accompanied by a strengthening of the youth development system. While Morocco has made significant progress in recent years, notably through the Mohammed VI Academy and the expansion of club training centers, the ambition to compete sustainably with the world’s best nations requires taking another step forward.

Following the example of countries such as France, Spain, and England, whose development systems produce high-level players across all positions year after year, the Kingdom must continue investing in talent identification, coach education, technical support, and the development of young players.

The Strategic Importance of FIFA Rankings

A major challenge awaits the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) in managing the team’s calendar. As a co-host, Morocco is automatically qualified for the 2030 World Cup. While this provides valuable peace of mind, it also means the Atlas Lions will not take part in the World Cup qualifying campaign, depriving them of competitive matches that could help earn additional FIFA ranking points.

It will be essential to schedule friendly matches against top-tier opponents. The national team must regularly face the world’s best sides to maintain its place in the global top 10 and keep the squad under competitive pressure.

Heading Towards 2030

Beyond tactical aspects, the most notable evolution lies in the team’s psychological dimension. A World Cup quarter-final, once seen as a historic achievement, now leaves a sense of unfinished business.

The major challenge of this cycle will be to confirm Morocco’s status as a leading force in African football, starting with the 2027 tournament, before turning its attention to the ultimate challenge of the 2030 World Cup.

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