Three things to know about Mohamed Ouahbi, the new coach of Morocco

Mohamed Ouahbi, it’s a name that is not known by everyone. He revealed himself, just like his players, at the FIFA World Cup for under-20s. They achieved the feat of lifting this trophy, becoming the second African selection to win this competition. After Walid Regragui, the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) is still counting on a local technician. But who is Ouahbi?

A coach trained in Belgium

Aged 49, Mohamed Ouahbi was born in Schaerbeek, Belgium. Logically, the new coach of Morocco did his training there as a coach. Having never played football at the professional level, he was quickly trained as an educator in his hometown. His first position was at the Maccabi Brussels where he worked with the youth teams. 

Ouahbi, a real trainer

Mohamed Ouahbi enjoys working with young people. Training is his field. After some interesting first steps with the Maccabi Brussels, the Moroccan was spotted by Anderlecht, who signed him in 2004. With the youth teams in Anderlecht, he did a remarkable job. Upon his arrival, he trained the under-9s. Gradually, he climbed the ladder by taking charge of the U19. With this team, he reached the last four of the Youth League (U19 Champions League), in 2015. 

After a brief stint as assistant coach of the first team of Anderlecht during the 2015-2016 season, Ouahbi found his first love again, the youth teams. Several Belgian internationals have passed into his hands, including Youri Tielemans, Dodi Lukebakio, Yari Verschaeren. Jérémy Doku. In the U15, he also shaped Bilal El Khannouss, the current Moroccan international. In May 2021, he permanently leaves RSC Anderlecht.

U20 World Cup winner

On March 10, 2022, 10 months after his departure from Anderlecht, Mohamed Ouahbi joined the U20 selection of Morocco. In three years, the 49-year-old technician has managed to implement his style, which is nothing other than to make young players progress. 
Mohamed Ouahbi has done real groundwork with the Moroccan U20. 

After missing the 2023 edition of the U20 AFCON , Morocco made its comeback in 2025. On Egyptian soil, Gessime Yassine and his partners played the final, beaten by South Africa on the smallest margin (1-0). This second place allowed them to qualify for the World Cup of the category. 

In Chile, from September 27 to October 20, 2025, Morocco surprised more than one. Under the leadership of Mohamed Ouahbi, the team developed a very seductive game. The Moroccan selection beat Spain and Brazil in the first round. She eliminated South Korea in the eighth final, the United States in the quarter-finals and France in the semi-finals. In the final against Argentina, the young Moroccans won 2-0 thanks to a double from Yassir Zabiri on October 20, 2025. 

Mohamed Ouahbi lands on the bench of Morocco's senior men's team with real status. He arrives with very clear ambitions: to continue the progress of the Atlas Lions.

«I am honored by the trust of the FRMF. We will work with rigour and humility, relying on a clear method and a collective ambition: to progress match after match, to set high standards on a daily basis, to allow the team to reach a milestone as soon as the next deadlines.” 

, he told the media on Thursday. 
To achieve the big goals ahead, Mohamed Ouahbi is a high-level technical staff. João Sacramento, one of José Mourinho’s faithful and assistant coach at PSG, AS Roma and Tottenham, will be the new Morocco coach’s assistant. 

The latter will conduct his first matches during the March window against Ecuador and (March 27) at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano stadium in Madrid and Paraguay (March 31) at the Bollaert-Delelis stadium in Lens, France. Two friendly matches that are part of the preparations for the 2026 World Cup.