Choosing peace. Method and form of pragmatism. She didn’t look far to find the Moroccan Football Federation when she saw its coach Walid Regragui quit in March, three months before the 2026 World Cup. The team, according to the starter himself, needed “new breath and new vision“. After a painful failure in the CAN-house final, compensated by the re-assignment of the title to Morocco by CAF (Confederation of African Football). Find a new spirit. A fresh face. They did not search for long and found Mohamed Ouahbi. In the next office.
Dates, times: full World Championship calendar
When we knocked, perhaps “Coach Mo,” the Espoir coach, was watching football. Or maybe not. “My favorite thing to watch is the Olympic Games.– a person of interest described to the YouTube channel Kelma Podcast in May. I like football. We are enthusiastic about Morocco or Belgium. (son pays natal)the teams I support. But in recent years there has been much more analysis than passion.– Plus Remko, this boat, Mo?I also watch cycling races. Especially the classic: La Flèche Wallonne… There is a great runner, Remco Evenepoel, who is now one of the best in the world, who we had in football at Anderlecht before the U19 team.“
When I see certain facial expressions, certain smiles or certain reactions at a press conference, I always see a guy from the hood.
Mohamed Wahbi, 49, has never been a professional footballer. Before his current position, he was not even the head coach of an adult team. Moreover, after introducing himself, Wahby first describes himself as “physical education teacher, mainly. I worked for about fifteen years in primary education with children aged 6 to 12 years.“. His life before leading the Moroccan selection, which he was entrusted with this year. Twenty-nine years after his first experience on the bench. The life of the young men of the (very) humble Maccabi Brussels at amateur level.”When I see certain facial expressions, certain smiles or certain reactions at a press conference, I always see a guy from the hood.smiling Yannick Ferrera. I don’t think this job changed him.“
Ferrera, the coach who led Standard Liège, recalls his journey into the professional world in parallel with “Mo” Wahby. “We knew each other because we studied at the same university. We both have degrees in physical education. (…) I started coaching youth in 2002 at Maccabi Brussels. We trained young people there for two years. (with Wahby) at a very low, amateur level. Then we simultaneously went to the RSK Anderlecht training center. (in 2003). In total, he spent 17 years there. I’m only six. This is where we first really worked together.“
The young man took the keys to the truck
There, too, Mohamed Wahbi became more than just a sports teacher. Scouted by the U9 (under 9) national team coach, the Belgian-Moroccan rose through the ranks at the training center year after year, including several spells on the first team bench as an assistant, in 2015-2016, then from 2018 to 2021. Before flying off to support Yannick Ferrera at Al Fateh (Saudi D1) – “I was quite animated Ferrera explains, and the club wanted me to take on another older assistant to give me peace of mind.”. Then take the head of the U20 team of Morocco, which he led to the world title in the fall of 2025 due to the defeat of the Bluets, beaten in the semi-finals (1-1, 5-4 tab) of the U20 World Cup, well, well.
Mohamed Ouahbi and Carlo Ancelotti in the match Morocco – Brazil (1-1).
Photo: Getty Images
By chance, even without being a head coach, “Coach Mo” crossed paths with some famous people. Dodi Lukebakio, Jeremy Doku or others, Leander Dendoncker and Alexis Saelemaekers, to name a few. Sami Bourar was also one of them, who grew up with Mohamed Wahbi. “In his youth, “coach Momo” had two favorites: Yuri Tielemans and me.“, – says the attacking midfielder, who played today in the Dutch D1, at FC Manama (Bahrain).
Bourard knew Mohamed Ouahbi from the U17 team in Anderlecht’s reserves. Ten years later, he still refers to his former coach as “Friend“. Trainer”very serene“, “Kind“, “patient“, “modest“And”worker“which required great individuality from young people.”He needs creative players who have a certain calmness and composure on the field.“,” recalls Burar. Who at the same time know how to change the situation and feel like leaders.. (…) I wouldn’t have seen myself playing in the previous Morocco with former coach Walid. (I ruled). It often happened: I put it on once, then blocked it a little. Coach Momo doesn’t just win 1-0.“
You can’t come in and force something on guys who are playing at a level you couldn’t even dream of.
In just four months on the bench in Morocco, Ouahbi has put his paw on the country of Morocco, which was criticized on CAN for its minimalism. “Already his midfield is much more dynamic.– Analyzes Burar. There is a greater desire to participate in racing, which comes with the arrival (Ayub) Buaddi made it easy. Midfielder Bouaddi-El Ainaoui is indeed the style of midfielder he needs. Players who run around, who don’t give up, who are very confident and know how to take charge of the game.“
Three months to put together a team that beat Brazil (1-1) and did not waver in Scotland (1-0) and then Haiti (4-2) is not enough. And, frankly, strong. “I wonder how he was able to achieve in a few weeks or months such a calmness that was so contagious.questions from Yannick Ferrera. When I see this team, I see their personality. I have the impression that the players value and respect him. And I think it’s a matter of humility. He’s not one of those who will come and say: “Now I’ll tell you, we’ll play like this, like this.”“
Which could be damn counterproductive. “You can’t come in and force something on guys who are playing at a level you couldn’t even dream of.Ferrera explains. You’re talking to a guy (Ashraf Hakimi) who, in any case, is coached by Luis Enrique.“
Fourth youngest team at the World Championships.
We called Mohamed Wahbi to cheer him up. “Coach Mo” exploded. Of the twenty-six players invited to compete in the 2026 World Cup, only nine made the trip to win the historic semi-final in Qatar four years ago. Out: Youssef En-Nesyri (Al-Ittihad) or Hakim Ziyech (Wydad Athletic) not selected. Atlas’s “cubs” have taken over: Morocco has the fourth youngest team of 48 at the World Cup (average age 26.7 years), with thirteen players aged 25 or under. And big ambitions.
Mohamed Wahby is among his players against Haiti.
Photo: Getty Images
Morocco is second in Group C with seven points. new generation I can’t hide it anymore. He’s not going to do that because he faces the Netherlands in the round of 16 (Tuesday, 3am). “We have all the ingredients to become a great nation.confirmed Wahby after his team’s 4-2 win over Haiti on Wednesday.. We begin to enter a dimension where we have to believe it. We must strive for the title“The way he always did it.
Jean Kindermans, Anderlecht’s training director from 2005 to 2023, has identified the kind of leader Wahby can become. “I remember the 1997 generation playing in the final of an important U15 tournament in Austin with Youri Tielemans as captain. I felt a responsibility to go and say a few words to the players before the match. I go into the locker room, naturally I leave the coach (Wahbee) finished his speech, and while he was speaking, I said to myself: “Jean, I don’t need to add anything.” He said everything, the guys were so pumped up… I abstained, and they won the final.“
Mo Wahby is an example for a young coach
A few years later, in front of the world’s media, Wahby had to step up his team to play a leading role in the World Cup. Late completion of the patient and methodical ascent. Football manager style. But Football Manager doesn’t allow you to train children.
“Mo Wahby is an example for a young coach– Kindermans continues. When I see that in 2004-2005 he started as U9 coach at the Royal Sports Club in Anderlecht, certainly a famous training center, and that 20 years later he is a coach at the World Cup, I tell myself that this should be the ambition of every youth coach.. But the fact that it took him so long also proves that this job cannot be achieved with just a snap of your fingers. This is what we are building. And I am very glad that he succeeded. Sometimes he stumbled, but then he got up again, and now for me he is a great coach in the making.“
“Today he is almost flawless.”
Video credit: Eurosport