"The challenge against Morocco is mental."

A report from the official website of the Confederation of African Football confirmed that the Moroccan national team is required to overcome the repercussions of the thrilling draw against Brazil and to focus entirely on the decisive match against Scotland, as part of the second round of the group stage of the 2026 World Cup.

The report indicated that coach Mohamed Wahbi warned his players against being preoccupied with the result of the first match against one of the top contenders for the title, emphasizing that the point gained from the draw against Brazil will hold no value if it is not reinforced with a positive result against the Scottish team.

The Moroccan team began its World Cup journey with a valuable draw against Brazil, ending 1-1, a result that boosted the group's confidence and raised the profile of the "Atlas Lions." However, the calculations within Group C necessitate treating the match against Scotland with greater importance, especially since the Scottish team has three points after winning in the first round, compared to one point for Morocco.

The CAF report pointed out that the challenge for Morocco will not only be technical but also mental, as players must overcome the euphoria of the draw with Brazil and prepare for a different encounter against a team that relies on physical strength, high balls, and strong pressure.

Wahbi confirmed that Moroccan players with experience in the English Premier League could play an important role in dealing with the Scottish style, highlighting that several players have previously faced physically demanding matches in the Premier League.

The Moroccan coach stated that facing Scotland requires maintaining balance and discipline: "The physical challenge will be present in second balls and aerial play. We must remain cohesive and be close to the ball with as many players as possible... we have a plan."

He also emphasized the need to control the pace of the game and avoid it turning into an open race between the two sides, asserting: "We must not feel nervous. It’s football; we have players who excel in this aspect, and we also have other strengths."

Regarding absences, Wahbi explained that the Moroccan team has calmly dealt with the injury of Nayef Aguerd and the absence of Abdessamad Ezzalzouli, noting that the group has multiple solutions and options capable of compensating for any absence.

For his part, Azzedine Ounahi confirmed that the draw against Brazil does not represent the end of the road, clarifying that the Moroccan team's ambition in the 2026 World Cup goes beyond just delivering strong performances against big teams.