Three months before the World Cup
©IMAGO
World Cup participants Morocco are losing their successful coach Walid Regragui just a few months before this summer’s tournament. “The team needs a new face, new energy and a new perspective with a new coach,” said the 50-year-old, explaining his resignation at a press conference. “I think the team needs new impetus before the World Cup, a new vision to keep moving forward.”
A successor was immediately presented: Mohamed Ouahbi will be the new coach of the team around ex-Dortmunder Achraf Hakimi (27), Stuttgart’s Bilal El Khannouss (21) and Bayer Leverkusen’s Eliesse Ben Seghir (21). Ouahbi led the U20s to their first world championship title in October 2025.
Hakimi wrote on
The association thanked Regragui for his work. At the 2022 World Cup he sensationally reached the semi-finals with the team. Morocco also reached the final of the Africa Cup of Nations in their own country at the beginning of the year, but lost 1-0 after extra time to Senegal in a controversial final. Afterwards there was a lot of criticism, including of Regragui. There had already been signs of his departure in the past few weeks; initially a major international solution for the successor was discussed. Ex-Barcelona coach Xavi is said to have canceled.
