Moroccan players' agent Ahmed Meitak has affirmed that the outstanding performance delivered by the Atlas Lions — who finished fourth at the 2022 Qatar World Cup — against Canada and their qualification for the quarter-finals of the 2026 World Cup confirms that the team is capable of going far in the edition being held across the United States, Canada and Mexico. He suggested that their upcoming quarter-final clash against France could serve as revenge for their meeting at Qatar 2022, noting that the opening draw against Brazil proved that the Atlas Lions are a world-class side capable of going deep in the current tournament.
Ahmed Meitak continued: "Morocco has written a new chapter in its proud World Cup history after securing a place in the quarter-finals with a well-deserved clean 3-0 victory over Canada." He stressed that the historic achievement at the 2022 Qatar World Cup was not an exception, but rather the beginning of a new phase that has established the Atlas Lions as one of the leading contenders for the world title.
Although the performance against Canada was not the most convincing from an aesthetic standpoint, the Moroccan national team offered a model of how top sides know how to secure victories even on days when they are not playing at their best.
He added: "Following the win over Canada, the Moroccan national team maintained its unbeaten record for the 34th consecutive match across all competitions — a figure that reflects the technical stability the team has enjoyed in recent times. Morocco also reinforced its status as the most successful African national team in World Cup knockout stages, raising its tally to 4 victories — 2 at the 2022 World Cup and 2 at the 2026 edition — a number equal to the combined knockout-stage wins achieved by Cameroon, Senegal, Ghana and Egypt throughout the history of the tournament."
Ahmed Meitak praised the outstanding technical leadership of coach Mohamed Wahbi, as well as the array of professional and locally-based stars who have delivered remarkable performances for several years — a journey that began under Walid Regragui and was continued with distinction by Mohamed Wahbi. He also lauded coach Fathi Jamal, the spiritual father of the Moroccan coaching school, who bears great credit — after God Almighty — for all the successes achieved by the national teams. He added: "I do not speak from a vacuum. This man, who has earned everyone's respect and esteem, has a sharp eye that has prepared the right coaching staffs for all the national teams to lead them and compete against the world's best — including, by way of example and not limitation, Walid Regragui, Chiba, Al-Shar', Al-Sektioui, Baha, Hussein Ammouta, Jamal Al-Salami, and currently Mohamed Wahbi — without forgetting the major role Fathi Jamal plays in developing national coaching cadres."
Ahmed Meitak also praised the significant role played by Fouzi Lekjaa, president of the Royal Moroccan Football Federation, explaining that the leap witnessed by national sport — and football in particular — is the fruit of a strategic vision. He said the achievements Morocco has realised in recent years reflect the success of the major choices made in developing sports infrastructure, investing in training and strengthening Morocco's presence on both the continental and international stages. He added that what Moroccan football is experiencing today is the culmination of a continuous reform process, pointing out that the national team possesses promising horizons given the quality of the young players it includes and their ability to maintain a competitive level in the years ahead.