Mohamed Wahbi said Morocco benefited from their demanding friendly against Mali, describing the match as exactly the type of test his side needed during their training camp in Tangier.
The Atlas Lions faced a strong Malian side at the Grand Stadium in Tangier, with Wahbi pleased that the match was played at a high tempo and provided his players with a serious examination.
Speaking to the Moroccan sports channel, Wahbi said his first assessment of the game was positive. He described it as a “real friendly match” played at a high intensity against an excellent opponent.
The Morocco coach said the quality of the opposition was particularly valuable for his squad because the purpose of the camp was to test the players against a team capable of creating difficulties.
Wahbi also explained that playing Mali was preferable to facing an easier opponent. The absence of Ghana had initially left Morocco in an awkward situation, but Mali ultimately provided the strong challenge the coaching staff wanted at the end of the camp.
The match allowed Wahbi and his staff to identify several areas of strength as well as aspects that still require improvement.
The coach said playing against a team of Mali’s quality exposed important details about the Moroccan side. He viewed the difficulties his players encountered as beneficial because they provided lessons that could help the squad continue developing.
One of the main positives for Wahbi was Morocco’s ability to deal with Mali’s attempts to press and recover possession.
The coach said the Malian side struggled at times to put pressure on Morocco’s players and win the ball back, which he regarded as evidence of progress within the group.
However, Wahbi also acknowledged that his side still had weaknesses that needed to be addressed.
One of the areas he identified was a lack of depth at certain stages of the match. He said Morocco’s performance improved considerably after the interval, with the players showing better movement behind Mali’s defensive line.
The coach also examined his team’s defensive display.
Morocco left too much space during the first half, according to Wahbi, although he linked that problem partly to the decision to maintain a high tempo and increase the intensity of the game.
He said the team gained greater control over the match during the second half and improved its management of the game.
Wahbi was also complimentary about Mali’s contribution to the contest, describing the opposition’s performance as a good one.
He stressed that playing against a team of such strength was important for Moroccan players because demanding matches can reveal both strengths and weaknesses more clearly.
For Wahbi, the value of the camp extended beyond the result of the friendly.
He said he was satisfied with what Morocco gained from the training period and insisted that the work to improve the squad would continue.
The physical effort made by the players and the intensity of the match were also viewed as important benefits, giving the coaching staff another opportunity to prepare the group for the challenges ahead.
The Mali test therefore gave Wahbi a demanding examination of his squad, while providing the players with a high-level match in which both their progress and areas for improvement could be assessed.
