Walid Regragui Successor: Ouahbi, Sektioui or Xavi Hernández?

Appointed in August 2022, Walid Regragui is leaving his position after writing one of the finest chapters in national sports history. Under his leadership, Morocco became the first African and Arab nation to reach the semifinals of a World Cup. This change of direction comes as the Atlas Lions find themselves in Group C of the next global tournament, alongside Brazil.

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To succeed him, the name of Mohamed Ouahbi is increasingly being mentioned. The coach recently made a strong impression by leading the U20 national team to the World Cup final in Chile, after eliminating France. Known for his tactical discipline and mental strength, he broke through a “glass ceiling” by guiding a Moroccan team to a world competition final for the first time, across all age categories.

Tarik Sektioui, a profile backed by historic successes

Tarik Sektioui has also emerged as a natural favorite, supported by an exceptional recent record. He notably led Morocco’s Olympic team to a historic bronze medal at the Paris 2024 Games. The success was sealed by an emphatic 6-0 victory over Egypt at the Beaujoire stadium, an unprecedented achievement for Arab and national football.

Under his leadership, the Atlas Lions dominated the Olympic tournament, inspired by Soufiane Rahimi, who finished as the competition’s top scorer with eight goals. This bronze medal, secured after crushing the Pharaohs in the third-place playoff, strengthened Sektioui’s reputation as a coach capable of succeeding in major international events under intense pressure.

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Already appointed by the federation to lead the local national team, he confirmed this momentum by winning the 2025 Arab Cup in Qatar against Jordan. His deep knowledge of the national talent pool and close coordination with the first-team staff make him a leading candidate to stabilize the national team ahead of its next global challenges.

The Xavi Hernández surprise?

According to information reported by the newspaper Marca, although Regragui’s departure is expected to be officially confirmed within the next few hours, the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) is already actively working on his successor. While several names are being mentioned, Xavi Hernández has become the clear favorite and the “dream name” sought by the federation’s decision-makers.

The former Barça midfield maestro has been without a contract since leaving the Catalan club a season and a half ago, after leading the Blaugranas to the Liga and Spanish Super Cup titles. His international profile and football philosophy would particularly appeal to Moroccan officials, who are eager to take another step forward after the 2022 campaign.