Wahbi Praises Bouaadi After His Performance Against Brazil: Including Him Was Not a Risk

Mohamed Wahbi, the coach of the Moroccan national team, praised Ayoub Bouaddi's outstanding performance during the match against Brazil, affirming that the young midfielder demonstrated he possesses the personality and sufficient experience to shine in major events despite his young age.

Wahbi's statements came after the 1-1 draw against the Brazilian team in the first round of the 2026 World Cup. The Moroccan coach gave special praise to his 18-year-old player following his remarkable performance in his first official match with the "Atlas Lions."

Wahbi said, "It might have been his first match at the international level, and a very important match at a young age, yet he did what he did," noting that the repeated talk about the player's age does not reflect the true extent of his experience at the highest levels.

He added: "He has played more matches in the French league than many other players, and he has also participated in Champions League matches, delivering a very strong performance against Real Madrid last season. He is 18 years old, but he is very calm and possesses a great deal of maturity and experience."

The coach of the Moroccan national team denied that relying on Bouaddi against Brazil was a technical risk, explaining that his only criterion for selection is readiness and technical level. He said, "I do not look at the player's age. If he is 35 years old and deserves to play, he will play, and if he is 17 years old and deserves to play, he will also play."

He continued: "I come from a background in development, so I am not afraid to give young players a chance. However, in this case, it was not a risk at all. We were completely convinced that he was capable of delivering a great match against Brazil."

Wahbi also spoke about the Moroccan fans present in the stadium stands, emphasizing that the support the team received was exceptional. He said, "I don't know if Moroccans made up only 20% of the attendance, but I could hear them clearly throughout the match, and it felt like there were many more of them."

The coach addressed a direct message to the Moroccan fans, acknowledging that the draw was not the result everyone had hoped for. However, he emphasized that the team showed strong character and great ambition during the match.

He explained: "I know the fans are proud of us, but I also know they wanted a win. What we showed today is that we entered the game with a winning mentality and proved that we know well what we want to deliver on the field."

Wahbi emphasized that the team will not treat the draw against Brazil as an achievement worth celebrating, adding: "We will not celebrate this result; instead, we will return directly to work to become stronger and more effective in the upcoming matches."

In his remarks about his feelings after the match, the "Atlas Lions" coach revealed that he feels proud of what the players have accomplished, despite believing that victory was within reach.

He said: "I am proud of what the players have delivered and their reaction on the field. At the same time, I feel we were capable of achieving victory. We have to accept this result and keep moving forward."

Wahbi concluded his statements with a message reflecting the new ambitions of the Moroccan national team, emphasizing that the phase of settling for honorable results is over, saying: "Morocco has reached another level, and we must take responsibility for that. We must enter every match with the aim of winning, regardless of the opponent's name, and continue to improve to be better in upcoming matches."