Morocco Retains Coach Walid Regragui Despite Early Africa Cup of Nations Exit

The premature elimination of the Atlas Lions from the Africa Cup of Nations (CAN Côte d’Ivoire 2024) was not fatal to Walid Regragui. The Moroccan technician remains in his position as coach of the Moroccan national team. "The Royal Moroccan Football Federation renews its confidence in Mr. Walid Regragui to lead the next stage, providing him with all the means of support and accompaniment in order to reach the status that Moroccan football deserves," the governing body of Moroccan football said in a statement. Good news for the one who is linked to the Federation until June 2025 and had previously stated that he would withdraw if Morocco did not reach at least the quarter-finals of the CAN. "I failed, it’s my failure, not the players’," the Moroccan technician had said after Morocco’s surprise defeat against South Africa on Tuesday, January 30 at the Laurent Pokou stadium in Côte d’Ivoire.

The FRMF "also thanks the loyal Moroccan supporters of the national team inside and outside the country for the patriotic spirit and the great sacrifice they have shown. In particular the supporters who endured the difficulties of the trip to Côte d’Ivoire, calling on them to further support and encourage the national team to take up the challenge of the 2025 Africa Cup."

The decision to keep Walid Regragui in his position was made following a series of meetings between the president of the FRMF and president of the National Teams Commission, Fouzi Lekjaa, devoted to the evaluation of the participation of the "A" national team in the 34th edition of the Africa Cup of Nations (CAN) Côte d’Ivoire-2023.