Ayoub Bouaddi: France Set the Pace Against Us

Moroccan international Ayoub Bouaddi admitted the difficulty of the task his team faced against France, stating that the "Atlas Lions" encountered a rival with significant technical quality, which was reflected in the match's dynamics and outcome.

In statements following the match, Bouaddi explained that the Moroccan team entered the game with the ambition of winning and continuing their journey in the 2026 World Cup. However, the strength of the French team complicated their mission, saying: "We hoped to win this match, but it was tough against a team with very high quality."

The Moroccan player noted that physical factors played a significant role during the match, emphasizing that the high tempo imposed by the French players made it difficult for the "Atlas Lions" to keep up with the game's events.

He added: "We lacked the physical readiness that would have helped us match the high pace of the game, and we also missed effectiveness in front of goal, which deprived us of achieving a better result."

Despite the bitterness of elimination, Bouaddi stressed that the Moroccan team gained important benefits from this participation, considering that the performance delivered by the team provides players with motivation to continue developing in the upcoming phase.

He concluded his remarks by saying: "I believe we played a good match overall, and this experience will help us improve. We understand that building a competitive team takes time, and achieving titles does not come easily, so we will continue to work towards our goals."