Morocco coach Walid Regragui is reportedly on the verge of leaving his post following the Atlas Lions’ defeat in the Africa Cup of Nations final, although the Royal Moroccan Football Federation, FRMF, has not yet officially announced his departure. Africanews, citing French newspaper L’Equipe, reported on Tuesday that Regragui’s exit had effectively been agreed and that a formal statement was expected soon.
The reported split comes after days of public denials from the federation. FRMF said last week that reports of Regragui’s departure were unfounded and insisted he remained in charge of the national team. As of Wednesday, no official statement confirming his exit had appeared on the federation’s channels, leaving the situation formally unresolved even as multiple media outlets say a change is imminent.
If confirmed, the departure would end a significant four-year spell in charge of the Atlas Lions. Regragui, appointed in 2022, guided Morocco to a historic run to the 2022 World Cup semi-finals in Qatar, making them the first African and Arab nation to reach the last four of the tournament. That achievement cemented his place in Moroccan football history and raised expectations for the team’s next major competitions.
But the pressure intensified after Morocco, hosts of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, lost 1-0 to Senegal after extra time in the final in Rabat on January 18. Reuters reported that the match descended into controversy and chaotic scenes late in regulation before Senegal secured victory, leaving Morocco short of a first continental title since 1976.
Reports in Moroccan and European media have pointed to Mohamed Ouahbi as the leading candidate to replace Regragui. Ouahbi has built a strong reputation in Morocco’s youth system and led the country’s Under-20 side to a historic FIFA U-20 World Cup title in 2025, a success Reuters said underlined the strength of Morocco’s development pipeline.
