Wahbi: Canada is an organized team.. and the players overcome fatigue with mental readiness.

Mohamed Wahbi, the coach of the Moroccan national team, confirmed that facing the Canadian team in the Round of 16 of the 2026 World Cup will be the toughest match for the "Lions," emphasizing that what the team achieved in the group stage will have no impact if the players do not perform at the required level in tomorrow's match.

Wahbi said during the press conference before the match: "We respect the Canadian team a lot; we consider it a dangerous team with a lot of quality. What will make us win is not what we presented in previous matches, but what we will show on the pitch tomorrow."

The national coach refused to be preoccupied with the statements made by the Canadian coach regarding the physical advantage of his team, explaining: "Everyone has their opinion, and I respect all opinions, but my focus is solely on the work that awaits us."

Regarding the readiness of the squad, Wahbi reassured the fans about defender Shadi Riyad, saying: "He suffered a bruise on his knee in the last match; it doesn't seem serious. He trained with us today, and we will assess his condition, but whoever plays will be 100 percent ready."

The "Lions" coach confirmed that he is working to keep his players away from the euphoria after qualifying, pointing out that he informed them that the match against Canada is "the most important match in the World Cup, and perhaps one of the most important matches in my coaching career, and it will also be the toughest."

Wahbi praised the Canadian team, considering that it has developed significantly compared to the 2022 version, affirming: "I liked their organization, their energy, and their clear identity. They know exactly what to do with the ball and without it, and even in throw-ins, they are a very organized team."

Regarding the fatigue resulting from playing 120 minutes against the Netherlands, the national coach downplayed the impact of physical factors, confirming: "In such tournaments, mental recovery is more important than physical recovery. When a player is mentally strong, he can overcome fatigue, and our numbers confirm that we run more and at a higher pace after each match."