Morocco’s World Cup Heroes Stunned in AFCON Upset, Coach Regragui’s Future Uncertain

"To win this match, we needed more intensity and efficiency. The goal made us get into the game. We created a lot of chances, but no goal. The missed penalty took the players out of the game. The free kick punished us and we could have finished with a heavier score. I take responsibility for this failure. Too bad, because I thought we could bring this cup home," said Walid Regragui in the post-match press conference.

The coach expresses regrets: "These are my choices, I don’t hide. I assume the elimination. We missed the penalty. We gave this penalty to Hakimi, because he scores it in training. It’s a tough competition for everyone. We had surprises and injuries. In the CAN, you have to be lethal. They were. [...] It’s especially for the public that I’m disappointed. He pushed us and deserved this Africa Cup," he regrets.

As for his future, the 2004 CAN finalist leaves it up to the President of the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF), Faouzi Lekjaâ. "I don’t want to speak out while it’s still hot. We will meet with my president and decide what is best for the national team," he said. Morocco’s goal was to reach the semi-finals, a stage it reached at the last World Cup.