Baha: 'Confidence Empowers Players to Achieve Greatness and Shows Moroccan Ambition'

Morocco U17 national team coach, Nabil Baha, expressed his immense joy following his team's qualification to the World Cup round of 16. The young Atlas Lions secured their spot by defeating the USA 4-3 in a penalty shootout, a victory Baha confirmed came after a difficult match marked by significant tension and pressure.

"There was a lot of tension because we were creating chances without succeeding in converting them into goals," Baha stated in post-match press remarks. "However, we always trust our players, especially when we see how they fight for every ball, never give up, and press the opponent to force them into making mistakes. They also entered the match with a strong desire."

He added: "I told the players before the match: 'Give everything you have.' We have players capable of starting the game, and we also have players on the bench who can make a difference at any moment. Today, our talented player, Ouazzane, was the one who made the difference."

Baha continued: "The more we win, the more our desire for victories grows. And the more the team wins, the more confidence the players gain. When a player gains confidence, they achieve great things. The players want to make the Moroccan fans happy, go far in the competition, and show that Moroccans always want to go far."