Morocco Coach Ouahbi: Mbappe’s Goal Came From a Handball — My Players Stopped

Morocco head coach Mohamed Ouahbi insisted that Kylian Mbappe’s opening goal in Tuesday’s World Cup 2026 quarterfinal should have been disallowed for handball, claiming several of his players stopped playing after spotting the infringement. Speaking after Morocco’s 2-0 defeat to France in the last eight, Ouahbi did not hide his frustration. “We have to admit that we played against a very strong team, but the first goal came from a controversial moment. My players stopped because they saw the ball hit a French player’s hand. The referee didn’t see it,” Ouahbi said. Mbappe struck in the first half, and France added a second after the break to seal their place in the semifinals. Morocco pushed forward but failed to find a way past the French defense. Despite the loss, Ouahbi praised his squad’s effort and thanked the fans for their support.