Walid Rekraki, the coach of the Moroccan national team, spoke about his team's victory over Niger in a match held during the fifth round of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.

The Moroccan national team achieved a 2-1 victory against the Niger team.

Rekraki stated in remarks after the match: "The most important thing for me is to secure the three points, but we cannot deny that we wasted 45 minutes in the first half. Niger surprised us with a goal at the beginning of the second half, which was like a slap that made us wake up and return to the match."

He added: "There are some players who think they are guaranteed a place, but that's not the case; the competition for positions is fierce, and those who do not contribute can find themselves out of the list."

He continued: "It is good for us to experience such scenarios before the Africa Cup of Nations, as it helps us remain humble and not fall into the trap of arrogance."

Rekraki praised the attendance of the fans, saying: "The crowd in Oujda today was amazing and supported us even in the toughest moments; perhaps in another city, the enthusiasm would not have been as strong."