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Mohamed Ouahbi did not follow the classic path of a football coach. He was not a professional footballer and did not build his name on trophies won in the football elite. For years, the 49-year-old worked as a physical education teacher in a school in Brussels, where he taught children from 6 to 12 years old.
After class, he would put on his coach's uniform and head to the training field. That was where the journey of "Coach Momo" began, who now leads the Moroccan national team and is just one step away from another historic achievement at the World Cup.
Born in Brussels to a family of Moroccan origin, Ouahbi fell in love with football as a child. The 1986 World Cup, when Morocco became the first African team to advance beyond the group stage, forever linked him to the "Lions of the Atlas".
He began his coaching career at the age of 21 at Maccabi Brussels, and in 2003 he got his big break at the prestigious Anderlecht academy. For 17 years he worked with the Belgian club's youth teams, becoming one of the most respected youth coaches.
During this period, Ouahbi also collaborated with Albanian coach Besnik Hasi as part of the first team staff. At Anderlecht's academy, he contributed to the development of some of the most famous names in Belgian football, including Romelu Lukaku, Juri Tielemans, Jheremi Doku and Dodi Lukebakio.
A special story is also connected to Remko Evenepoel. Before becoming one of the best cyclists in the world, he was part of the Anderlecht academy.
" We had Remko at Anderlecht up to the U-19 level ," Ouahbi recalled.
For the Moroccan coach, education has always been as important as football.
" We saw that the players who reached the first team were usually those who had finished high school. Modern football requires discipline and education plays an important role ," he said.
After an experience in Saudi Arabia with Al-Fateh, in 2022 he received the call that changed his career. The Moroccan Football Federation entrusted him with the management of the U-20 national team, appreciating his many years of work in Belgium.
Success came quickly. Within three years, Ouahbi had built a competitive team and led Morocco to victory in the U-20 World Cup, defeating Argentina in the final.
After the departure of Valid Regragi, the Federation decided to entrust him with the leadership of the first national team.
Although his appointment was met with skepticism, the results spoke volumes. With a squad whose average age is just 26.4 years old, Morocco has emerged as one of the biggest surprises of the 2026 World Cup.
" Young players are often criticized for not listening to their elders, but with us the opposite happens. They respect the technical staff and experienced footballers. We have built a strong culture of mutual respect ," the coach declared.
Now, "Coach Momo" faces the biggest test of his career. Facing France in the quarter-finals could give him the opportunity to continue Morocco's dream and write another historic chapter with the "Lions of the Atlas."
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