Morocco’s national football team is preparing to face France in the quarterfinals of the World Cup under the leadership of coach Mohamed Ouahbi, a rising figure who has quickly made a name for himself despite limited senior-level experience. Ouahbi, 49, who was born in Belgium to Moroccan parents, previously led Morocco’s Under-20 team to victory at the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Chile last October, where his side notably eliminated France in the semifinals.
Although initially considered a long shot for the senior national team coaching role after Walid Regragui’s resignation following the Africa Cup of Nations in January, Ouahbi was appointed in March and has since demonstrated his ability to transition successfully into senior international management. Under his leadership, Morocco remains unbeaten in 10 matches, achieving six wins and four draws, a streak marked by a growing tactical discipline and clear playing identity.
Ouahbi’s coaching journey began in youth football at Anderlecht, a prominent Belgian club, where at age 21 he started working with under-9 teams. Over 17 years at Anderlecht, he ascended through the ranks, serving as assistant to former Albanian international Besnik Hasi in 2016 before returning to youth development. During his tenure, he contributed to the nurturing of notable players such as Jeremy Doku, Youri Tielemans, and Bilal El Khannouss, the latter now an important figure in Morocco’s midfield.
Jean Kindermans, former head of Anderlecht’s youth program, described Ouahbi as not only an effective youth coach but also a person of strong values and principles. Kindermans emphasized Ouahbi’s strength in motivation, highlighting his ability to command respect from senior players despite not having been a professional player himself. “He is an incredibly good motivator,” Kindermans said, noting this as a key asset in managing a squad filled with established talents.
After leaving Anderlecht in 2021, Ouahbi joined Saudi Arabia’s Al Fateh as an assistant coach before moving to the Moroccan Football Federation to oversee youth teams. His swift rise in international football has drawn positive attention, partly due to his commitment to maintaining a distinct style of play for Morocco rather than adapting to opponents’ strategies.
Former Morocco international and current team assistant Youssouf Hadji praised Ouahbi’s approach, stating, “He sticks to his own style of play and isn’t dictated to by the opposition. When Morocco play now, we have our own identity.”
As Morocco prepares for its challenging quarterfinal against France on Thursday, Ouahbi’s leadership will be under close scrutiny as he seeks to guide the team to new heights on the world stage.