RABAT, Morocco — Coach Walid Regragui has stepped down from his position with the Moroccan national team, just months ahead of the World Cup, a move he confirmed during a late-night press conference on Thursday.
Regragui’s resignation comes less than 100 days before the World Cup is set to take place from June 11 to July 19 in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. This announcement was anticipated, as reported by numerous outlets, prior to a news conference where Regragui was joined by Fouzi Lekjaa, the president of Morocco’s soccer federation, to honor the outgoing coach.
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“This team requires a new direction, fresh energy, and a different vision with a new coach,” stated Regragui. “I believe this change is essential for the team to thrive leading up to the World Cup, to ensure our continuous progress. My decision to depart is part of the team’s growth.”
The 50-year-old previously guided Morocco to its historic semifinal finish at the 2022 World Cup, marking a first for both Africa and the Arab world. However, he faced criticism after the team’s narrow defeat to Senegal in the Africa Cup of Nations final in January, where they hosted the tournament.
Lekjaa announced that Mohamed Ouahbi, who led Morocco’s under-20 squad to a Youth World Cup championship, will take over as head coach.
This will be Ouahbi’s first role managing a senior team. The 49-year-old, who has previously managed Morocco’s under-23s, spent a significant portion of his career overseeing youth teams at Belgian club Anderlecht.
“I’m not here to rebuild, as the foundations are already established. My goal is to maintain the team’s performance,” Ouahbi stated.
He will be assisted by João Sacramento, a former assistant coach at Paris Saint-Germain, who has also worked alongside José Mourinho at both Roma and Tottenham.
Since 1975, Morocco has not secured a continental trophy, and Regragui faced backlash for his defensive approach to gameplay. Calls for his removal intensified following the national team’s underwhelming performance at the recent Africa Cup in Ivory Coast.
A former right-back for Spanish club Racing Santander, Regragui took over as Morocco’s national coach in 2022. Following the latest Africa Cup disappointment, speculation about his future surged, leading to three denials from the federation regarding his potential departure.
Morocco captain Achraf Hakimi expressed his appreciation for Regragui on the social media platform X, describing him as a “legend” and emphasizing that the coach’s “leadership, passion, and vision inspired not just the players, but an entire nation and millions of fans globally.”
Hakimi acknowledged that Regragui “left an indelible mark on Moroccan football history. Thank you for inspiring us and representing our colors with pride.”
Morocco is making significant investments in sports infrastructure as it aims to emerge as a football powerhouse, co-hosting the 2030 World Cup alongside Spain and Portugal. The nation has ambitious plans to host the final at the Hassan II Stadium, set to be the largest soccer venue in the world with a planned capacity of 115,000 upon its completion in 2028.
In preparation for the World Cup, Morocco will also play warm-up matches against Ecuador and Paraguay on March 27 and 31, respectively.
The Atlas Lions have been drawn into Group C for the World Cup alongside Brazil, Haiti, and Scotland.