Morocco head coach Mohamed Ouahbi and star defender Achraf Hakimi addressed the media on the eve of their match against Brazil, expressing confidence not only in the upcoming fixture but also in their overall World Cup campaign.

“We are very happy to be here,” the coach said. “The World Cup atmosphere is really building, and we are ready to answer your questions.”

He went on to highlight the positive mood within the squad, stressing belief in their preparation and team identity.

“The atmosphere is very positive. We are confident in the players’ physical condition, in the system we have built, and in the principles and values we have established. In the end, results will show where we stand, but we already saw encouraging signs against Norway.

“We are in a good position to start the tournament, and our aim is to improve from match to match. I have no complaints.”

Ouahbi also addressed the absence of two key players, Abde Ezzalzouli and Nayef Aguerd, who were ruled out due to injury.

“All the players are fit, even though we had to replace two of them. The rest of the squad is in good condition, and everyone is ready to play.

“We will not change our principles. We have already shown positive things and will continue to do so by staying true to our approach.

“Just because it is our first World Cup match, it does not mean we will change everything. We had already prepared for the possibility of absences, so nothing really changes for us.

“We are disappointed for Abde and Nayef, as they were important players who deserved to be here, but we have found solutions. The most important thing is adaptability. We are confident and will continue doing what we have been doing.”

Hakimi echoed the overall optimism, as Morocco look ahead to a challenging opening test against Brazil.

Paris Saint-Germain defender Achraf Hakimi has expressed strong confidence that Morocco, the Atlas Lions, are fully prepared for their opening World Cup challenge against Brazil.

When asked about the threat posed by Vinícius Júnior and the Brazilian attack, Hakimi acknowledged the quality of the opposition but stressed the importance of collective defending.

“Everyone knows the Brazilian national team and we are aware of Vinícius’ qualities. I’ve faced him many times and he is a top player. To defend against him and the other Brazilian attackers, you need to do it as a team, with clear organisation,” he said.

He added that Morocco have prepared thoroughly for the match and believe they are ready for the challenge.

“We have trained for games like this. The team is ready. Personally, I feel prepared and confident to deliver a strong performance,” Hakimi explained.

The right-back also highlighted Morocco’s belief in their ability to compete with the most successful team in World Cup history.

“We know Brazil very well, their history and the quality of their players. But we also have quality. In Africa, they call us the ‘Brazilians of Africa.’ We have talented players and strong qualities.

“I believe we are ready to do something important, with confidence and the support of our fans. We can have a great World Cup and start well tomorrow.”

Despite Morocco’s historic semi-final run in 2022, Hakimi insisted the squad are not looking too far ahead and are focused solely on their opening match.

“We are fully focused on the first game. We want to start in the best possible way. After that, we will take it match by match and try to go as far as possible, even better than last time. But right now, everything is about tomorrow and delivering a strong performance and a win.”