Mohamed Wahbi, the coach of the Moroccan national team, stated that the coaching staff of the “Atlas Lions” faced limited options in selecting the teams Morocco would face in friendlies before the upcoming World Cup tournament.
Wahbi confirmed that the matches against Madagascar and Norway are very important tests for the Moroccan national team, especially as the coaching staff seeks to raise the players’ technical and physical readiness and implement new tactical plans.
Wahbi explained in press statements that Madagascar was chosen because it is a developing team showing good performance in the qualifiers and can be a suitable partner for preparation, especially since some players will not be at full physical readiness.
He added that the goal of this match is to work on multiple tactical aspects, manage the pace of play, and give some players enough playing minutes to gain experience.
The Moroccan coach emphasized that the noticeable progress of the Madagascar team recently makes it an opponent capable of creating real challenges on the field.
In a related context, Wahbi pointed out that constraints were imposed on the choices of the Royal Moroccan Football Federation, as many teams were tied to other matches or had traveled early to the United States, prompting the technical staff to look for teams from the Sub-Saharan region.
As for the match against Norway, Wahbi confirmed that its aim is to simulate playing styles similar to the major football schools worldwide, such as Brazil.
He added that the Norway team is considered an ideal opponent for these preparations due to its strength in quick offensive transitions, its ability to maintain possession for long periods, and its danger in set pieces.
These friendly matches also help evaluate the readiness of the Moroccan national team, led by Mohamed Wahbi, to face the major challenges in the global tournament.
