Morocco’s Soccer Federation to Evaluate Coach Regragui After Early AFCON Exit

After the surprise elimination of the Atlas Lions against South Africa in the round of 16 of the Africa Cup of Nations (CAN Côte d’Ivoire 2023), it is time for evaluation. The coach of the Moroccan national team should, in the next few days, submit his technical report to the President of the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) on the disappointing participation of his protégés in the continental tournament. The technical management will have to do the same. After which, an evaluation session is expected between Fouzi Lekjaâ and Walid Regragui to discuss the reasons for the humiliating elimination from the competition.

Favorite to win the Africa Cup of Nations (CAN), Morocco - a semi-finalist in the last World Cup - was eliminated on Tuesday by South Africa (2-0) in the round of 16 and left the competition. A failure that Walid Regragui says he assumes. "[...] I of course bear the responsibility for this failure. I am not someone who hides on my game choices, on my player choices. I have nothing to reproach my players. They followed me, they gave the maximum. Too bad, because I felt that we could be able to bring this cup home. It is a competition that is complicated for everyone. There have been many surprises. We had injured players, we had a lot of absentees, we adapted. There are young people who have come in and we could have expected better from them, and from me. But today, it is the failure of the coach, not the players," said the Moroccan technician.