Mohamed Ouahbi: Morocco coach impressed with Paraguay win

Morocco national team head coach Mohamed Ouahbi has revealed his delight after the Altas Lions secured a 2-1 friendly win against Paraguay during the FIFA international break.

The North Africans secured a 2-1 victory over their Paraguayan counterparts in a match held on Tuesday in the French city of Lens.

La conférence de presse de Ouahbi a l’issue de la rencontre Maroc 🇲🇦 – 🇵🇾Paraguay pic.twitter.com/5nDgLoH1C5

— Mountakhab.net (@Mountakhabma) April 1, 2026

The victory came just days after a draw with Ecuador in another friendly held in the Spanish capital, Madrid.

Morocco preparing for the World Cup

“We’re happy, because that’s what I’ve been saying from the start: we’re preparing for the World Cup, but at the same time we want to win matches,” Ouahbi said as quoted by Al-Batal.

“We’ve made changes, but we didn’t want to change the whole team, because that’s important too. When we change a large number of players, they aren’t always in the best conditions to show their potential.”

Ouahbi added: “We kept three or four key players to help some of the younger players settle in, and it was important to maintain balance and give everyone a chance.

“I wanted to give some players playing time, and perhaps the intensity dropped a little, which is normal in friendly matches after the 65th minute.”

‘We played against strong side’

On what he wanted to achieve from the friendly matches, he responded: “I wanted the players to make my decision harder regarding the selection for the World Cup squad, through good performances and securing a win.

“We played against a strong side, one that was more cohesive and aggressive, and they didn’t leave us with many options, particularly in the first half.

“In the first half, we tried to get into the box, then we made some adjustments at half-time, and there was a clear improvement in the second half.”

He further praised Morocco fans for their support: He said: “In the stands, it’s unbelievable; no matter which city the Moroccan national team plays in, the stadium is always full.

“What’s more, and what’s truly impressive, is the fans coming out from the hotel, onto the motorways, upon arrival at the airport – wherever we go, regardless of the city. I know this for a fact; a large number of fans even came to Chile to support the Moroccan youth team.”

Morocco is preparing for the 2026 FIFA World Cup where they have been pooled in Group C alongside giants Brazil, Haiti, and Scotland.