The Day Morocco Stop Looking Back at Qatar
Brazil’s aura against African opposition has faded in recent years, and few know that better than Morocco coach Mohamed Ouahbi, who has already beaten the Seleção on the world stage. The Atlas Lions approach their 2026 World Cup opener convinced another statement victory is within reach.
Over the years, the sight of Brazil waiting on the opposite side of the tunnel was enough to unsettle opponents before kickoff. The famous yellow shirt carried a mystique built on five World Cup titles, generations of greats and a footballing identity unmatched anywhere in the sport. Facing Brazil was surreal.
That certainty has gradually begun to erode. Africa’s leading football nations no longer approach Brazil with admiration alone. This is evidence that the gap separating them from the South American giants has narrowed considerably. Morocco defeated Brazil in Tangier in 2023, Senegal went on to defeat them (4-2) that same year. Perhaps more significantly, Cameroon stunned the Seleção at the 2022 World Cup via a 1-0 margin.
The fear factor that once accompanied meetings with a well oiled Brazilian machine has weakened, replaced by a growing belief that victories are attainable. No one embodies that mentality more than Morocco coach Mohamed Ouahbi.
If there is a manager capable of looking Brazil directly in the eye without blinking, it is the man currently guiding the Atlas Lions. Before taking charge of the senior national team, Ouahbi authored one of the great stories in Moroccan football history when he led the country’s Under-20 side to the FIFA U-20 World Cup title. Along the road to that triumph, Morocco defeated Brazil 2-1.
That confidence could prove invaluable when Morocco face Brazil in their opening Group C fixture at the New York New Jersey Stadium in East Rutherford. The contest is eagerly anticipated, pitting Africa’s highest-ranked side against a nation desperate to reclaim football’s biggest prize after a 24-year drought.
While much of the attention focuses on Brazil, Morocco carry some unfinished business of their own. Officially, the Atlas Lions are African champions. The title, however, tells only part of the story.
Morocco’s AFCON triumph came through an unusual pathway. After suffering heartbreak against Senegal in the final, the North Africans were later awarded the trophy following a lengthy legal process and appeals procedure. The trophy eventually arrived in Morocco’s possession, but the emotional celebration that traditionally accompanies continental glory never materialized. It almost feels incomplete.
That controversial 2025 AFCON ending contributed in the departure of Walid Regragui, the coach who had overseen Morocco’s extraordinary rise. His successor inherited a talented squad, but also a challenge: restoring the emotional connection with fans and the entire continent. Fortunately for Morocco, they already know what genuine validation feels like.
Their remarkable journey to the semifinals of the 2022 World Cup was described as pure football “heaven”. More importantly, they earned something no appeals board could deliver: universal respect. Football, however, offers little protection for past achievements.
The game relentlessly demands fresh proof. Yesterday’s miracle quickly becomes today’s expectation. The further Qatar drifts into history, the louder the questions become. Was that semifinal run the beginning of a lasting transformation or simply a perfect tournament where everything aligned? Brazil provides the ideal stage to answer those doubts.
A victory over the five-time world champions would instantly restore much of the aura Morocco carried out of Qatar. It would also reinforce the argument that this generation belongs among the world’s elites.
Morocco’s encounter with Brazil this Saturday is equally expected to shape the entire complexion of Group C. Following today’s showdown, Ouahbi’s men will face Scotland on June 19 before concluding their group campaign against Haiti on June 24. Brazil will take on Haiti and Scotland in their remaining fixtures. With the group’s two favorites meeting immediately, the outcome would have a major influence on qualification scenarios heading into the second round of matches.
Morocco’s rise has not occurred by accident. Years of investment in infrastructure, coaching development and youth academies have transformed them into Africa’s sophisticated football destination, and perhaps it is time to claim football’s greatest piece of metal.
