Coach Ouahbi confident in Morocco's future after 1-1 World Cup draw with Brazil
Sign up now: Get the biggest sports news in your inbox
Morocco coach Mohamed Ouahbi with their players after the match on June 13.
PHOTO: REUTERS
EAST RUTHERFORD, New Jersey – Morocco are hungry to go beyond the semi-finals at the World Cup, coach Mohamed Ouahbi said after his side earned a 1-1 draw with powerhouse Brazil in their opener on June 13.
Ouahbi had said ahead of the match that Morocco were prepared to shed their underdog image, four years after they knocked out Spain and Portugal to become the first African team to reach the final four in Qatar.
While their fans were outnumbered at the sold-out New York New Jersey stadium, Morocco gave them plenty to cheer for with a strong performance against the five-times champions.
Ismael Saibari gave Morocco the first-half lead against the disjointed Brazilian team on June 13, before Vinicius Jr levelled it in the 32nd minute.
Second-half substitutions brought “freshness” to the team as mistakes began to pile up in the intense contest, Ouahbi said.
“I don’t know if 20 per cent of the crowd were Moroccans, but we could hear them very loudly. If it was only 20 per cent, they fooled me into thinking there were many more of them there,” said Ouahbi. “I hope they had great fun watching a good match tonight, and I hope this will continue.”
“For the future of Moroccan football, we are confident. We drew; we’re happy. I’m not sad. We would have wanted to win, obviously, but I’m not sad,” said Ouahbi. “What I’m really proud of is that we’re bold enough to play and ask for the ball under pressure. This is a great quality that we have.”
The draw sees the two teams each earn one point with Haiti playing Scotland in the second Group C match on June 13 in Foxborough, Massachusetts.
“I want to go beyond the semi-finals but it was a good match,” Ouahbi told reporters. “One is good enough and we'll improve.” REUTERS