Key Takeaways
- Ismael Saibari will miss Morocco's World Cup quarter-final against France due to a hamstring injury.
- Coach Mohamed Ouahbi says his team is prepared and expects the match to be challenging.
- Ouahbi emphasizes that every match has its own context, unlike their previous encounter in 2022.
Morocco coach Mohamed Ouahbi has confirmed that striker Ismael Saibari will not feature in their World Cup quarter-final against France on Thursday due to a hamstring injury sustained during their victory over Canada. Saibari, who scored crucial goals for Morocco throughout the tournament, is set to miss this pivotal match.
In a press conference ahead of the game, Ouahbi expressed hope that Saibari’s absence will not significantly impact his team's performance. 'He’s not ready but I hope it’s not the end of the tournament for him,' said Ouahbi, adding that they are focused on preparing for France without any surprises.
Ouahbi outlined Morocco’s strategy: 'With regards to preparing for the match, there will not be any surprises. I have nothing to hide. I’m not somebody who is keen on surprises, and those of you who have analysed our games, you know that we have a clear idea of how we want to play.'
The coach highlighted the importance of possession and patience in their game plan: 'Of course, the key will be to hurt them when we have possession, but it’s not only on the wings. We have to be patient with the ball, and to find where we can go through on the sides or in the centre.'
Despite France being considered favourites, Morocco remains confident of their chances: 'We’ve proven that we can hurt any team, and that’s the goal. But I’m not going to go into too many details,' Ouahbi added.
Reflecting on their journey so far, Ouahbi stated, 'Every match is different, has its own context, its own history, and it’s not going to be the same as in 2022.' He emphasized that both teams have evolved since their last meeting: 'What is important is that now we have a team that is different. We’re going to face a different French team than the one from four years ago. Both teams are even better and that’s normal because we are two federations, two countries that work very well.'
Ouahbi also downplayed the significance of their current position in the tournament: 'I always like to say that we’ll take stock of the situation at the end of the tournament. We’re not going to listen to people who will say, ‘Oh, it’s great what you have done up till now’. France might be favourites, but we were going to do everything possible to win. Being at this stage is not a bonus. The bonus is to win the World Cup.'
He’s not ready but I hope it’s not the end of the tournament for him.
Mohamed Ouahbi, Morocco coach
With regards to preparing for the match, there will not be any surprises. I have nothing to hide.
Mohamed Ouahbi, Morocco coach
