Noureddine Naybet, the former central defender who played for Wydad, Sporting Portugal, and Deportivo La Coruña and who remains Morocco’s record appearance-maker with 115 caps, revisited several World Cup memories in an interview with FIFA.
Just days before the Atlas Lions open their campaign against Brazil on June 13, Naybet offered his assessment of the current squad, which he believes is capable of winning Morocco’s first world title.
“We have a team of exceptional quality, a fantastic and solid squad with no weak points, and world-class players. We have to take it step by step, and we cannot speak of being favorites on paper, but we must trust our strengths. With the quality we have, we can dream of going far. Why not win the World Cup?”, the Moroccan legend said.
The former Atlas Lions captain also reflected on his early memories of the World Cup. Born in 1970, the year Morocco made their first appearance at the tournament, Naybet said he began to “dream” of playing in the competition during the 1986 edition in Mexico. He eventually made his debut on football’s biggest stage in the United States in 1994, according to FIFA.
In 1994, alongside Mustapha Hadji and Tahar El Khalej, Naybet and the Atlas Lions exited at the group stage after three defeats, losing 1-0 to Belgium, 2-1 to Saudi Arabia, and 2-1 to the Netherlands. Four years later, at the World Cup in France, Naybet captained Morocco in a squad that included Salaheddine Bassir, his Deportivo teammate, as well as Youssef Chippo.
Morocco also faced Scotland and Brazil in the group stage in 1998. The Atlas Lions were eliminated in the first round after drawing 2-2 with Norway and then suffering a 3-0 defeat to Brazil, with goals from Ronaldo, Rivaldo, and Bebeto.
Naybet recalled that match with clarity. “We were facing a four-time world champion, with a phenomenal attacking line and a team full of great players. In defense, they had Cafu and Roberto Carlos, and they also had Dunga in midfield. Our mistake was focusing too much on Brazil. We thought only about them, not about ourselves. In football, you have to believe in yourself in order to play with confidence.”
Morocco’s final group match, against Scotland, was a must-win for the team then coached by French manager Henri Michel. Despite a 3-0 victory, Brazil’s 2-1 loss to Norway denied Morocco a historic qualification.
“I remember the sadness of that moment. It stayed engraved in every player’s mind. We started crying on the pitch,” Naybet added.
The former defender also looked back on his years at Deportivo La Coruña, where he won La Liga in 2000, the Copa del Rey in 2002, and two Spanish Super Cups, while also reaching the Champions League semifinals in 2004.
He also recalled his memories with teammates at the Galician club, including Rivaldo, Roy Makaay, and Argentina’s current head coach, Lionel Scaloni.
