With a series of unprecedented performances at the helm of Morocco's under-20 team, Mohamed Ouahbi has established himself not only as a keen talent spotter but also as a coach who drives his players to surpass themselves and make history. After leading the Atlas Cubs to the final of the U20 Africa Cup of Nations, he is now guiding them toward another milestone, a potential World Cup triumph. The latest historic achievement of Morocco's under-20 national football team undoubtedly bears the mark of Mohamed Ouahbi. By surpassing the Atlas Cubs' best-ever result at the 2005 U20 World Cup, the team has reached the final of the 2025 edition in Chile, becoming the first Arab country in 44 years to do so. On Sunday, October 19, at midnight Moroccan time, they will face Argentina in hopes of clinching their first-ever title. This remarkable accomplishment is the product of discipline, patience, and hard work, qualities that Ouahbi has instilled since taking charge of the team in 2022. The coach has repeatedly emphasized that this success is no coincidence, but rather the result of long-term preparation and a clear vision developed with his players over the past two years. Unlike many of his peers, Mohamed Ouahbi did not begin his football career as a player before turning to coaching. Holder of a UEFA Pro License, he first built his reputation as a youth trainer in Belgium in the 1990s. Born and raised in Brussels, he quickly made a name for himself at just 21 years old, working with the Maccabi Foot Brussels (MFB) club, where his exceptional talent for teaching and mentorship first shone through. An Accomplished Trainer and Talent Developer In 2004, Ouahbi joined Neerpede, the renowned academy of Sporting Anderlecht, where he is affectionately known as «Mo». His 17-year tenure at the club saw him coach several age categories, from U9 up to U21, earning widespread recognition for his contribution to generations of young players and numerous tournament victories. Anderlecht highlighted his role during the 2014–15 season, when the U21 squad reached the Final Four of the UEFA Youth League in Nyon, an unprecedented achievement for the Belgian side. This success earned him a promotion to assistant coach of Anderlecht's first team under Besnik Hasi the following year. Through his mix of pedagogy, discipline, and team spirit, Ouahbi helped nurture some of the brightest talents in Belgian and Moroccan football. Many of his former protégés went on to succeed in top European leagues or represent Morocco's senior national team, including Bilal El Khannouss, who shone for the Atlas Lions at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar and the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. «Anderlecht has had many great players trained under Mo, who went on to enjoy brilliant careers abroad», the club wrote in a tribute. Reflecting on his experience, Ouahbi once said, «Neerpede is not only a great school for young players, but also for coaches». After leaving Belgium, Ouahbi joined Al-Fateh SC in Saudi Arabia, where he served as assistant coach to Yannick Ferrera, a former Anderlecht colleague. In 2022, he accepted the challenge of leading Morocco's U20 national team, marking the beginning of a new and transformative chapter. Beyond the pitch, Ouahbi is also committed to humanitarian causes. As an Ambassador for Dignity with the NGO Karama Solidarity, he has helped collect donations to produce prosthetic limbs for Palestinian refugees and civilians injured in Gaza, further illustrating his belief in football's human and social mission. Discipline, Values, and «Breaking the Glass Ceiling» On the field, Ouahbi strives to instill not only tactical discipline but also human values : respect, accountability, and perseverance. Despite failing to qualify for the 2023 U20 Africa Cup of Nations, he remained focused on long-term development. His philosophy paid off: a year later, the Atlas Cubs reached the final of the 2025 U20 AFCON, securing their spot at the World Cup in Chile. «We've put in place a structure built on values and principles», he told FIFA. «We often say: no excuses, no blame. We don't blame anyone for mistakes, and we don't make excuses for them. We started from those principles». Now among the leading figures behind Morocco's golden generation, Ouahbi is following in the footsteps of Walid Regragui, Tarik Sektioui, and other national coaches who have propelled Moroccan football to new heights since 2022. Speaking to FIFA, he said this momentum could help «break the glass ceiling» in African football: «Once it's broken, everyone will aim for the stars». «When you're not used to going far, there are always obstacles, fear of success, pressure, self-doubt», he continued. «But now, the lights are green. What Walid Regragui did in 2022 opened the way for us and for future generations». For Ouahbi, Morocco's U20 success goes beyond competition, it's about identity and unity. «It's the image we want to project of Morocco», he said, «the same values we saw at the 2022 World Cup: solidarity, togetherness, and the collective spirit we express on the field».
