Morocco’s Narrow Win Against Lesotho Sparks Fan Criticism of Coach Regragui

On Monday, Morocco won narrowly against their Lesotho counterpart with a score of 1-0, at the Grand Stade d’Agadir, in a match of the 2nd round (group B) of the qualifiers for the Africa Cup of Nations (Morocco-2025). A performance that does not reassure Moroccan supporters as the final phase of the continental tournament, which will take place from December 21, 2025 to January 18, 2026 in Morocco, approaches. Moroccan supporters hoped that the national team would maintain its level while winning a large victory and offering an impressive performance, given the apparent weakness of the opponent before the start of the match, said the analyst and national executive El Mehdi Kasoua to the Al3omk website.

But it was disillusionment. According to his explanations, the way the opponent played did not allow the Moroccan team to apply Walid Regragui’s ideas and technical plans. He will insist on the fact that the Atlas Lions always encounter great difficulties against teams that regroup in defense. According to El Kasoua, it is necessary for the Moroccan team to find alternative solutions before the next matches, either by diversifying the methods of play, or by making the best use of set pieces, which are one of the effective solutions in modern football against opponents who adopt this style of play.

He also suggests resorting to long-range shots when it is difficult to penetrate the opposing defenses, whether through the center or the wings. He also criticized the lack of diversification in the game of the Moroccan national team and asked the coach of the Atlas Lions to show more ingenuity in the future.

"When the coach tried to opt for an offensive game, spaces appeared in the middle of the defensive line, and Sofyan Amrabat, who was alone in midfield, could not fulfill the mission of forming the first defensive wall." Result: goalkeeper Bono was threatened several times, and captain Aubameyang’s teammates missed easy chances, while the crossbar prevented several goals, comments sports analyst Mohamed Rohli to the same site. "It is true that you can score the most goals possible, but defensive solidity becomes non-existent, as happened against the Gabon team, despite the latter’s retreat." "So, what to say if you face a better prepared team among the great teams of the continent?" he questions. Rohli deplores the lack of methodology: "Against Lesotho, Walid Regragui gave the opportunity to other players, particularly those who shone during the Paris Olympics, but the initiative also lacked proper methodology." This could have been done progressively and smoothly, not all at once. Everyone has noticed that the players’ abilities are important, but there is a lack of proper methodology, better positioning and a different approach than the one that was applied. According to him, the problem is that the Moroccan team "does not reflect any evolution worthy of the name in its performances, nor an improvement in its style of play". Even when trying a different tactical system than the one used during the World Cup in Qatar, things turn completely around.

Rohli points to Regragui’s lack of experience. "There is a categorical judgment concerning coach Walid Regragui". It is said that a team like the Moroccan team, with its great stars, needs a great coach, with his experience, competence, personality and tactical maturity. How is it possible that such a team is led by a coach with limited experience, and on top of that, everyone feels that he feels inferior to talented players, unable to impose his personality? ", he wonders. According to him, there is "a real problem, which must be addressed, until everyone is convinced that what was accomplished at the World Cup in Qatar is just a nice memory, which may not be repeated if the situation remains as it is".

The sports analyst also returns to Morocco’s last two matches. "Winning by a large score when your goalkeeper is the best player of the match, as was the case against Gabon, is not at all a good sign," and "winning a victory in the last minutes of a match against a team like Lesotho, ranked among the weakest teams on the continental and international scale, reflects a completely mediocre level," he analyzes. And he estimates: "Trying to open up to offensive play and seeing your defensive line exposed in return shows a weakness in tactical vision and a lack of the necessary experience in such situations." Trying to please certain former players, even at the expense of those who are more ready, demonstrates a weakness of character of the coach in the face of those who consider themselves the decision-makers within the Moroccan selection."

"Calling up players who are not ready at the expense of regular players in their clubs, justifying this with incorrect arguments, is unprofessional behavior that has nothing to do with true professionalism." Turning press conferences into a place for gratuitous controversies and futile quarrels that demean their author is an outdated method that has no place in any training manual or leadership methods," fumes the sports analyst.

After their last two matches, the Atlas Lions will face the Central African Republic as part of the third and fourth rounds of the CAN qualifiers, at the Oujda stadium, in October due to the closure of the Agadir stadium for renovation.