Morocco U17 Faces Mali in Doha: Pressure Falls, Curse Debunked

Inside the Camp: Pressure Lifted Ahead of Mali

Morocco’s under-17 coach Nabil Bahha publicly welcomed a sense of relief as his squad prepared for Tuesday’s knockout clash with Mali in the FIFA U-17 World Cup in Qatar. The team earned a dramatic win over the United States on penalties after a late equalizer, a result Bahha framed as evidence that the players were finally shaking off the mounting pressure that had followed their earlier outings against top-tier opponents.

The Moroccan group, which had looked overshadowed by heavy defeats—most notably a six-goal loss to Portugal and a sensational 16-0 drubbing of Kalidonia—has regained a spark of confidence. Bahha highlighted that the record win, documented by KOOROA, helped restore belief while the players gradually shed the nerves that accompanied their first appearances on the world stage in this age group.

Pre-match updates from the camp noted Mali as the last remaining North African representative in the tournament after the others exited, and Bahha outlined how the team drew motivation from past meetings with their African rivals—yet stressed that this clash is about Morocco’s own performance and composure.

Previous Encounters and the Curse Myth

Historically, the Moroccan and Malian sides have shared a tense relationship in youth football. They met in last year’s Africa Cup of Nations final—Morocco claimed the title on penalties after a goalless draw—following another close encounter in the 2023 Indonesia U-17 World Cup, where Mali advanced with a narrow victory. Bahha dismissed any notion of a “curse,” saying that the real obstacle is maintaining focus and avoiding overconfidence in such high-stakes games.

He explained, “There is no curse. There are matches won by maintaining focus and not overestimating yourselves. Each team knows the other well, so it becomes a book opened to the other side, increasing the complexities.”

Team Preparation and Injury News

Before dawn departures, federation president Fouzi Lekjaâ held talks with the players, emphasizing that this generation could redefine Moroccan football on the world stage and urging them to return from Qatar with the trophy. Bahha also spoke about the team’s approach, noting that the players have absorbed the message and are concentrated on continuing the adventure in Qatar rather than retreating into routine upon returning home.

Good news on the medical front followed reports that Abdallah Wazan, the Ajax forward who scored the equalizer against the United States, had recovered from his injury and would be available for the Mali game. Bahha stressed that Daoudi and other key attackers would continue to carry the attacking load as Morocco aims to press their advantage.

Moving Forward: Focus and Determination

Bahha stressed that the squad must stay grounded, concentrating on their own plan rather than rattling off the opponent’s strengths. He also noted the value of this generation's maturity, comparing the pressure to a test of resolve rather than a stage for panic. The players have shown incremental improvement since their group-stage performances, and the team appears ready for a challenging, tactical battle with Mali.

As the teams prepare to take the field, the atmosphere at the training grounds in Doha remains optimistic, with the Moroccan camp signaling belief that they can advance to the next stage and fulfill their ambitious aims in the tournament.

Historical Hurdles and Hopes

The piece of history that still weighs on Morocco is the recurring trend of African opponents knocking them out in knockout rounds of major youth tournaments. Bahha’s squad hopes to turn the page and write a new chapter with a strong performance in Qatar. The medical update on Wazan’s recovery adds a further boost to the squad’s confidence going into the Mali match.

“We’ve studied Mali well, and they know us too. We’re focused on our own game and on sustaining the level we’ve shown in recent matches,” Bahha said. “If we stay disciplined and composed, we can take this opportunity to push further.”

Final thought: a team with belief plus a bit of luck can beat the odds, but a team with discipline and focus can write its own luck. The stakes are high, and the mood in Doha is of quiet confidence.

Sniper punchline 1: If Morocco’s U17 keeps bending the odds, the scoreboard will start asking for autographs.
Sniper punchline 2: If goals were bullets, this squad left the gunpowder at home and still hit the target every time.