Head coach Nabil Baha has steered Morocco’s Under-17 national team from the brink of elimination to a record-breaking victory at the FIFA U-17 World Cup.
Facing immense pressure after losses to Japan (2–0) and Portugal (6–0), Baha masterminded a 16–0 demolition of New Caledonia, the largest win in Under-17 World Cup history, to secure the team’s place in the Round of 16.
Baha praised his players’ resilience and credited their freedom on the pitch for the extraordinary result.
“We thank the Moroccan fans who came to support us, even though they were hard on us after the Portugal loss,” he was Moroccoworldnews.com.
“It was important to score many goals to improve our goal difference. We had to win; we had nothing to lose.”
The coach’s tactical decisions and ability to manage pressure were key to Morocco’s turnaround.
While acknowledging that New Caledonia were a weaker opponent, Baha stressed that maintaining focus and attacking relentlessly was essential.
“Let’s be honest, they were easier. But we needed to score a lot. Now we’re at plus eight, and that could make the difference,” he explained.
Morocco’s qualification was confirmed after Costa Rica lost to Croatia and the UAE fell to Senegal, giving the Atlas Cubs three points and a superior goal difference. Baha highlighted the importance of mental strength, saying,
“We were under pressure in the first two games. But today, we played freely. The players were happy, and that’s what we want.”
With his leadership, Morocco not only booked their place in the knockout stage but also restored confidence and belief in the squad, setting the stage for a potentially deep run in the tournament.