Morocco Have No Striker Crisis, Says Mustapha Hadji as Saibari’s False-Nine Role Draws Attention
Morocco’s use of Ismael Saibari as a central striker at the 2026 World Cup was a tactical choice, not evidence of a shortage of forwards, according to Atlas Lions legend Mustapha Hadji. The former international says coach Mohamed Ouahbi has a range of attacking options and the flexibility to change his approach depending on the opponent.
Saibari, who has played for PSV Eindhoven and is now a Bayern Munich star, made a major impression during the tournament. Although he is not a traditional number nine, he led Morocco’s attack and became one of the team’s most prominent performers. His movement, technical ability and capacity to link play helped show how a forward can influence a match without staying between the opposition’s centre-backs.
Hadji believes that role fits a broader tactical idea associated with Barcelona: using a false nine to draw defenders out of position, create space for runners and give the attack more ways to progress. In his view, Saibari’s deployment reflects Ouahbi’s adaptability rather than a lack of conventional strikers.
Hadji: Morocco Have Several Attacking Options
Questions about Morocco’s centre-forward position have followed Saibari’s World Cup performances. When a player who is more naturally suited to several attacking roles leads the line, it can invite speculation about whether the national team has enough specialist strikers. Hadji dismissed that concern, pointing instead to the depth of young talent available to the coach.
“We have young attacking options who shone at the Under-20 World Cup, among them Yasser Zabiri, who plays in the Spanish league,” Hadji said in a video interview with Kooora. “I do not see that there is a crisis in this position for the Moroccan national team.”
Zabiri’s emergence offers Morocco another profile in attack and gives the coaching staff a potential alternative when a more conventional striker is needed. A squad with different types of forwards can be valuable across a long tournament: some opponents may leave space behind their defence, while others defend deep and require a striker capable of holding the ball and contesting crosses.
That variety matters to any team with ambitions in major competitions. Rather than relying on one fixed attacking formula, Morocco can select a forward based on the match-up—or change its approach during a game. Hadji’s comments suggest that the team’s options should be judged not only by how many recognised number nines are available, but also by how effectively its players can perform different roles.
Why Ouahbi’s False-Nine System Can Work
Hadji said Ouahbi can use his players in more than one way and is influenced by the style associated with Barcelona. He compared the potential use of a false nine to approaches employed by Pep Guardiola during his time at the Spanish club and by Hansi Flick in the modern game.
A false nine starts in a central attacking position but often drops into midfield instead of remaining high up the pitch. That movement can create a difficult choice for opposing defenders: follow the forward and leave space behind, or hold their line and allow the player time to receive the ball between the lines. Wingers and attacking midfielders can then exploit the openings created.
For Saibari, the role is particularly useful because of his versatility. Hadji noted that the Moroccan can operate as a number nine, a number ten or out wide. This range allows Ouahbi to adjust the shape of the attack without necessarily making a substitution. Saibari could begin centrally, drift into a playmaking area or move towards the flank as teammates make runs into the box.
The approach is not without demands. A false nine needs sharp movement, good decision-making and reliable support from players arriving from deeper positions. If the wide attackers do not make runs, or the midfield cannot deliver the ball quickly, the centre-forward may become isolated. Morocco’s success with the system therefore depends on coordination across the front line—not simply on Saibari’s individual qualities.
That tactical balance will be important in future fixtures, including Morocco’s Africa Cup of Nations qualifying schedule. The team’s football prediction prospects in any upcoming match will depend on factors such as the opponent’s defensive shape, player availability and whether Ouahbi chooses a false nine or a more traditional striker. Hadji’s assessment, however, is clear: Morocco have options, and the coach has more than one way to use them.
Hadji Says Moroccans Continue to Support Lamine Yamal
Hadji also discussed Lamine Yamal, the Barcelona winger who chose to represent Spain rather than Morocco. The teenager made his senior debut for Spain in September 2023, and his decision has remained a topic of interest among fans in both countries.
Hadji said he holds no resentment towards Yamal and believes Moroccans continue to feel a strong connection to the young star. “Although Yamal represents Spain today, as Moroccans we love him and support him, and we consider that his blood is Moroccan,” he said.
The former Morocco international also pointed to the pressure surrounding a decision of that magnitude. Yamal was very young when he committed to Spain, Hadji noted, and had the opportunity to join a leading national team while playing for one of the world’s most prominent clubs.
Hadji acknowledged that Yamal could have made a significant difference had he chosen Morocco, but said supporters have accepted his decision. “Today 40 million Moroccans support him with Spain,” he added, framing the player’s heritage as a source of pride rather than a reason for hostility.
Morocco’s Strength Lies in Tactical Flexibility
Hadji’s remarks offer a broader perspective on Morocco’s attack. A team does not necessarily need to rely on a classic striker in every match, particularly when it has technically gifted players who can rotate positions and unsettle defenders. Saibari’s World Cup role demonstrated the potential of that approach, while the emergence of younger forwards such as Zabiri gives Ouahbi further choices.
For Morocco supporters, the key question is not simply who starts as the number nine. It is how the team creates space, connects midfield with attack and adapts when opponents change their defensive plan. If Ouahbi can combine Saibari’s versatility with the depth of the squad’s younger attackers, the Atlas Lions may be able to vary their football without losing their attacking threat.
