Morocco Captain Saïss Reveals Tensions Before World Cup Coach Change

Invited on RMC, Romain Saïss revealed that with the former coach, the atmosphere had become unbearable, even though he had helped Morocco qualify for the World Cup. "We had reached a point where it was becoming complicated, even for him personally, where he was booed on every trip. This was felt in the group inevitably. When you play in Morocco and you hear his name, it whistles everywhere and it affects everyone. This brings tensions."

Vahid Halilhodzic was replaced by Walid Regragui following his dismissal by the Royal Moroccan Football Federation. For the captain of the Atlas Lions, it was not a foregone conclusion, but the bet was won. "When he arrived, he didn’t have a lot of time to prepare for this World Cup. His message and what he wanted for his team had to be conveyed quickly."

He acknowledged Walid Regragui’s leadership, who knew how to restore confidence to each player and bring back the cohesion that had disappeared due to discord. "He quickly immersed himself in the atmosphere. Everyone was aware of the importance of the event, with the little time we had to prepare. No one cheated, everyone made the effort, from the staff to the players," said Romain Saïss.