“Whabi: Our defeat against Mexico is an important lesson in preparation for the Round of 16 in the World Cup”
Express TV: Mustafa Filali
In a statement following the Morocco U-20 national team’s match against Mexico, coach Mohamed Whabi affirmed last Saturday evening that the Mexican team deserved the victory in the match, which ended with a score of 1-0 during the third round of Group C at the 2025 FIFA U-20 World Cup held in Chile. Despite the loss, Whabi noted that the most important aspect for him is the team’s good preparation for the Round of 16, as the Moroccan team had already qualified after securing first place in the group with six points.
Whabi explained in his remarks to the press after the match that the game held little significance since the “Atlas Cubs” had ensured their advancement to the next round, stating that his goal was to represent Morocco in the best light in all matches, whether they were decisive or not. He added, “We tried to achieve a positive result, but we were unable to do so. We must continue to improve in preparation for the Round of 16.”
The Moroccan coach also addressed the squad changes in the match, clarifying that introducing some new players did not imply a lack of ambition for victory, confirming that Mexico was stronger in this encounter. He pointed out that the match was decided by small details, including the few scoring chances available to the Moroccan team.
Regarding the officiating, Whabi expressed his frustration over the yellow card issued to player Ali Maamar but affirmed that this was not the main reason for the defeat. He added that this loss would serve as a valuable lesson for the future, helping the team to remain focused and more ready.
Despite this defeat, it had no impact on the Moroccan team’s ranking in the group, as they concluded the first round in first place with six points, ahead of Mexico (five points) and Spain (four points), while Brazil exited the tournament with only one point.
