The coach of the Moroccan national team confirmed that the draw against the Mali national team on Friday evening came in a strong match against a tough opponent, while also praising the level his players showed despite not capitalizing on the opportunities available.
He said in the press conference following the match: “We faced a strong national team, and we missed the chance to decide the match, which will benefit us in the future. Our goal is to finish the group stage in first place to stay in Rabat, and I congratulate the players on the performance they delivered.”
He explained that the level of the Mali national team did not surprise him, adding: “We maintained our previous level as the match statistics confirm, and what we lacked was efficiency in front of goal. The match was at a quarter-final level or higher. Mali played for a point and succeeded, and congratulations to them.”
Regarding the situation of a certain player, he confirmed that the technical staff is being cautious about involving him to avoid any complications, saying: “We are waiting for the right time to involve him. He will certainly be present in the second round, but pushing him in a strong match like Mali would have posed a risk. We must not take risks, and we will see if he will start the next match or come on as a substitute. He wanted to participate, but his injury was significant, and it’s difficult to gamble with him.”
The coach continued: “Efficiency always remains an issue, especially in high-level matches. We hoped to get the sixth point to secure early qualification, but you can only win it when everyone performs their assigned role.”
He concluded his remarks by emphasizing his understanding of the fans’ dissatisfaction with the draw result, saying: “The public has the right not to be satisfied, but winning the title is not achieved through talk, but through work on the pitch.”
