Morocco’s Coach Regragui Likely to Keep Job Despite Early AFCON Exit

The Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) plans to keep Walid Regragui at the head of the Moroccan national team, according to an FRMF official to the newspaper Al Akhbar. Both the players and the members of the FRMF executive board are unanimous on the subject, preferring to give the Moroccan technician a second chance rather than recruit a new foreign coach, the same source assures.

The FRMF is preparing to make this decision because it has a long-term vision that goes beyond the Africa Cup of Nations, explains the official, recalling the remarkable performance of the Atlas Lions at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, where they reached the semi-finals, and highlighting the challenge of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations to be held in Morocco.

Regarding Regragui’s statement that he would resign from his position because he "failed" at the AFCON, the same source said that the decision to part ways with the Moroccan coach will be made based on his overall results as well as the reasons for the failure at the AFCON. Under Regragui’s tenure, the national team has scored 31 goals and conceded 13 in 22 matches, including 12 wins, 6 draws and 4 losses.

A meeting should soon be held at the Mohammed VI Football Complex, between the President of the Federation, Fouzi Lekjaa, and Walid Regragui, assisted by his assistants. An opportunity to take stock of the participation of the Atlas Lions in the 2023 AFCON, to identify the mistakes made and to consider a restructuring of the national team while maintaining the players who have proven effective.