Present alongside Mohamed Ouahbi at a press conference before Morocco–Scotland, Azzedine Ounahi displayed a clear and ambitious discourse. The midfielder for the Atlas Lions acknowledged that Morocco still needed to step up after their draw against Brazil, while assuring that the group remained fully focused on the continuation of the competition.
When asked about the criticism surrounding his first performance in this World Cup, Ounahi responded calmly. “I accept the criticism from Moroccans. I know they want to see me at my best. The World Cup is a long sprint; it comes at the end of the season. Observers have noted that my performance was average in the first match. We will grow with the competition, both individually and collectively, I am convinced of that. We will improve as we go along,” he stated.
The Moroccan player also mentioned Ayyoub Bouaddi, who made a notable debut against Brazil. For Ounahi, the young midfielder’s performance was no surprise within the group. “Regarding Bouaddi, it may be a surprise for those who do not know him, but for us, the players, his teammates, we know the added value he brings to the team. He is a very young player, and he will have a great career,” he confided.
Ounahi also emphasized the strength of the popular support surrounding the Atlas Lions. “When you have 40 million Moroccans behind you, you play with extra motivation. We absolutely want to make Moroccans proud, just as we did in Qatar,” said the Moroccan international, recalling the strong bond between the team and its supporters.
The midfielder further compared this World Cup to that of 2022, while highlighting the significant differences between the two contexts. “The Qatar World Cup is incomparable. It’s as if we were playing in a single city. Our training ground was very close to the stadium and our place of residence. Here, it’s different. These stadiums are immense. But the stadiums will not really be an obstacle for us,” he explained.
On the eve of an important match against Scotland, Ounahi wanted to remind everyone that the draw against Brazil should not be seen as an endpoint. “We do not want to stay at the same level. We want to improve. I believe in it. We will progress throughout the competition. We are convinced that we will succeed. Every match is different. We all have quality. There are no small teams. We will continue to move forward and progress. Brazil is not the end of the road,” he concluded.
