No shot on target until the 83rd minute and no striker – why did Morocco not dare to attack France and pay the price.

Just like in 2022, Morocco’s World Cup path surpassed that of France in 2026. And, just four years ago, the Atlas Lions were knocked out by Les Bleus – this time in the quarter-finals on Thursday in Boston, losing 2-0.

In 2022, Morocco could point to Theo Hernandez’s first goal and Sofiane Boufal’s possible penalty, and the broad sense that the French team was unbeatable. Four years on, it’s a different kind of regret that will haunt the Atlas Lions after this game — one of not really committing to a Boston championship, choosing to limit the damage rather than give it their all.

One statistic tells the story more than any other: it took until the 83rd minute and Azzedine Ounahi was equalized from outside the box – following a free-kick combination with Achraf Hakimi – before Morocco registered their first shot on target in the quarter-finals.

Yes, the Lions of Atlas resisted the hour, helped a lot by the heroics of Yassine Bono between the posts, but in return they did not really trouble France. A performance far below what one would have expected in a game billed as a chance for revenge in 2022.

Morocco’s attacking space is facing France

By directing themselves defensively, the Moroccans were able to close the gaps between the lines for a long time and use Mohamed Ouahbi’s system. Where they showed their greatest disappointment was with football. Expected goals of just 0.22, only eight touches inside the opposition box and 62.6% of their passes in their own half show a side that seemed to be playing with a handbrake, hesitant to follow through when situations arose.

‘We were used to something different – good football, quick changes. They used to create a lot of chances in every game. Tonight, it seemed like they refused to play. They were defending and just keeping the ball. I would have preferred Morocco to go to. You can lose, but in a better way and without regret.’ – former Atlas Lion Jaouad Zairi, speaking on beIN Sports.

Could Morocco really have done more?

If that unusual performance frustrates the fans, the question remains: did Morocco really have the means to do more against an attacking French side? Each time they revealed themselves, they were punished. Noussair Mazraoui’s penalty – saved by Bono – came from France’s lightning strike, and both second-half goals were scored in transition.

© Consport / Ewen Gavet

The problem of team depth

Defensively, the Moroccan team struggled due to the lack of a reference in the opposition box. With Ismael Saibari injured and Soufiane Rahimi out of the starting XI, the team played without a recognized centre-forward, with Chemseddine Talbi, Bilal El Khannouss, Ounahi and Brahim Diaz rotating through the middle of the game until Rahimi’s introduction. The situation reflects a problem that Ouahbi admitted after the game in the broadcast area – the lack of depth in the team.

‘We need to strengthen the base and make sure that, when players are injured or out of shape, we have a big pool to call upon.’ – Ouahbi, speaking after the game.

With the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations a year away and the 2030 World Cup to be hosted at home in four years, Morocco must continue to build. It is possible that Ouahbi is still in charge, despite the fact that this Thursday marked his first defeat in 11 games in charge of the senior team.