Morocco Coach Renard Reveals Pre-CAN Exit Plans, Federation Clash

Thus, Fouzi Lekjaâ had opposed Hervé Renard’s departure! Yet it was this same Lekjaâ who was presented as the first Moroccan to want the French technician’s departure at all costs, following the early elimination of the "Atlas Lions" at the 32nd edition of the CAN in Egypt.

We remember that the very next day after this defeat, in the round of 16, against the "Squirrels" of Benin, the President of the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) had a meeting with Renard, on site, in the land of the pharaohs. As soon as he returned to Morocco, Fouzi Lekjaâ had a new meeting with the French coach. These two face-to-face meetings between the two men had the objectives, according to the media that had been very prolific on the subject, first to ask the French coach for explanations and then to demand his resignation.

One thing is certain, this is not a publicity stunt. Hervé Renard made this statement very recently to the magazine Jeune Afrique. In the interview in question, the coach, who looked back on his three years at the head of the Moroccan national team, said that the idea of leaving Morocco had come to him before the CAN, after receiving an interesting offer from an Asian federation. "I couldn’t leave because I was under contract with the FRMF until 2022. Plus, Fouzi Lekjaâ had refused to let me leave the national team," Renard said.

The "white wizard", who did not hide his desire to go to another country, outside of Africa, confirmed that he would take the reins of an Asian selection. It is very likely that it is Saudi Arabia.

On Sunday, July 21, the French technician announced on his social networks his resignation, which was taken into account at the beginning of the week by Fouzi Lekjaâ.