The Moroccan national football federation announced on Monday that Walid Regragui, aged 48, will remain in his role as the coach of the Morocco national team, despite their recent Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) failure.
High expectations surrounded Morocco’s campaign in the Ivory Coast, particularly after Regragui guided them to the semi-finals of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, marking a historic achievement for any African nation.
However, following their top-of-the-group finish with two wins and a draw, the Atlas Lions suffered a disappointing 2-0 defeat to South Africa in the round of 16, leading to what the federation described as “disappointment”.
“I failed. It’s my failure, not the players,” admitted Regragui, who had previously stated his intention to step down if Morocco did not reach at least the quarter-finals.
Despite the setback, the Moroccan football federation has decided to retain Regragui as head coach, emphasizing their commitment to mobilizing all resources to ensure the success of the national team in the upcoming 2025 AFCON and 2030 World Cup, both scheduled to be held in Morocco.
Regragui’s AFCON campaign faced further challenges when he was suspended by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) following an altercation with Congolese defender Chancel Mbemba after a group match. However, the decision was later overturned following an appeal from the Moroccan federation.
