EDITOR NOTE: This article is translated from the original written in French by Omar Chraibi for Pan-Africa Football.
Morocco coach Walid Regragui praised his players' performance after the 2-0 World Cup qualifying victory against Tanzania on Tuesday evening, emphasizing that the Atlas Lions are on a winning streak and are getting closer to qualifying for the World Cup for the third time in a row.
During the post-match press conference, Regragui highlighted a change in mentality surrounding Moroccan football's ambitions:
"Moroccans now consider World Cup qualification as something normal, whereas before, they would take to the streets to celebrate. This proves that we have moved into another dimension, that we are among the greats."
The Moroccan coach then analyzed the match, highlighting the progress his team has made in handling difficult encounters:
"Congratulations to the players and fans for this fifth consecutive victory. It's never easy, especially during the month of Ramadan." Last year, we fell into the trap against Mauritania, but this time, we knew how to adapt and dominate Tanzania."
Regragui also highlighted his team's tactical solidity against a well-organized defensive opponent:
"We faced a solid team that defended deep, but we forced them to run a lot. In the second half, we were more effective, we camped in the opponent's half and knew how to exploit set pieces. That's how we broke the deadlock and found the opening goal."
Finally, the Moroccan coach concluded on the importance of this victory in the continuation of Morocco's football development project:
"It's a logical victory. After the opening goal, we controlled the match like the great teams do. This shows that we have reached a milestone. Qualifying for a third consecutive World Cup is a major objective, perfectly in line with the vision of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, who strives to bring Moroccan football to new heights."
Thanks to this victory, Morocco consolidated its first place in Group E with 15 points, and moved one step closer to qualifying for the 2026 World Cup after participating in the 2018 and 2022 editions.
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