When one penalty kick changes everything: Regragui is no longer Morocco boss
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Reading Time: 3min | Sat. 07.03.26. | 21:22
One of the most successful head coaches in the Atlas Lions' history resigned from his position just three months before the 2026 FIFA World Cup following his team's devastating defeat in the 2025 AFCON final
After three and a half exceptional years, Walid Regragui resigned as the head coach of the Morocco national team.
The 50-year-old leaves as one of the most successful managers in Atlas Lions' history, whose stint on their bench should have continued, had it not been doomed by one infamous penalty kick.
Regragui took over Morocco in August 2022, succeeding Vahid Halihodzic only three months before the 2022 FIFA World Cup, during which the North African country achieved the greatest WC accomplishment in the history of the mother continent.
Regragui celebrating Morocco's place in the 2022 World Cup semi-finals with his players (©Francois Nel/Getty Images)The Atlas Lions became the first-ever African national team to reach the World Cup semi-finals. They topped Group F ahead of Croatia, Canada, and Belgium, before eliminating Spain and Portugal in the knockout phase.
Their incredible run was ended by France in the semis, and despite the defeat to Croatia in the match for third place, Morocco made the entire continent proud and became one of the most pleasant surprises in World Cup history.
At that point, they were arguably the most powerful team in Africa and the greatest generation of Moroccan football, whose pinnacle was supposed to be the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations held in their country.
Ahead of the tournament, the Atlas Lions were undefeated in 17 consecutive matches and awaited the AFCON beginning as the top contenders for the crown they hadn't won since 1976.
They advanced from the group stage, topping their group with seven points before brushing aside Tanzania, Cameroon, and Nigeria on penalties, and the grand final against Senegal was expected to be a memorable moment for the entire country.
However, instead of winning their first AFCON after half a century, Brahim Diaz wasted the added-time penalty kick for the win - the infamous panenka - as Senegal went on to clinch the trophy in extra time.
Despite the loss, Morocco had a fantastic tournament and recorded the best result at a continental tournament since 2004, but alas... Given that everyone expected the trophy, being runners-up was labeled a failure, the public pressure was enormous and overwhelming, and Regragui succumbed.
A few weeks ago, he offered his resignation, but the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) allegedly didn't accept it. Still, two days ago, the 50-year-old's spell on the Atlas Lions' bench was definitely over.
Yesterday, Regragui was honoured for everything he had done for the national team, as the former U-20 and U-23 Morocco head coach, who won the recent U-20 FIFA World Cup, Mohamed Ouahbi was officially unveiled as the new senior squad boss.
The 49-year-old tactician will debut on the Atlas Lions' bench in 20 days in a friendly duel against Ecuador. Four days later, his team will face Paraguay, while their June warm-up rivals have yet to be announced.
At the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Morocco will play in Group C alongside Brazil, Morocco, and Scotland.