Morocco head coach Mohamed Ouahbi has hailed his side’s dramatic penalty shootout victory over the Netherlands as a thoroughly deserved result, insisting the Atlas Lions were the dominant team throughout the Round of 32 contest.
After battling to a hard-fought draw before prevailing in the shootout, Ouahbi praised his players for their control of the game, arguing that Morocco dictated proceedings against one of Europe’s traditional football powers.
“It is a fully deserved victory in every sense of the word,” Ouahbi said after the match. “I think we completely controlled the match.”
The Moroccan coach highlighted his team’s superiority in possession, revealing that the Atlas Lions enjoyed 70 percent of the ball while restricting the Dutch to just 30 percent — a statistic he believes reflects Morocco’s command of the encounter.
“I don’t think they are used to playing with only 30% possession, while we reached 70%,” he added. “We created far more chances and had many more shots.”
Ouahbi’s assessment underscored Morocco’s confidence following a performance that combined tactical discipline with attacking intent. Despite the game requiring penalties to separate the two sides, the coach maintained there was little doubt about which team deserved to progress.
The victory sends Morocco into the Round of 16 with momentum and growing belief, as the Atlas Lions continue their impressive FIFA World Cup campaign after eliminating the Netherlands in one of the tournament’s most dramatic knockout ties.
