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Rabat – The head coach of Morocco’s national team, Walid Regragui, has asked for a positive mindset and teamwork to win the next Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco.
“I believed that I was better than the other coaches and that we could bring back the African Cup from Ivory Coast. Now we must all cooperate so that we win the next African Cup in Morocco, and to know, in the upcoming continental events, how to be united and positive,” he said in a pre-friendly game press conference on Thursday.
Morocco’s national team will play a friendly match against Angola tonight at 10 p.m Moroccan time. The friendly matches will feature Real Madrid football star Brahim Diaz, who has chosen to represent Morocco over Spain.
Speaking of his team’s AFCON dream, Regragui emphasized that with support from family and fans, everything is possible.
“I want to emphasize that when a Moroccan falls, he is capable of rising again, with the help of his family and ancestors,” he said. “Walid indeed fell,” he added in reference to his team’s disappointing performance at the just concluded AFCON in Cote d’Ivoire, “ but he will rise again and set an example for Moroccans capable of rising, working, and starting anew.”
The national coach and the Atlas Lions faced a wave of criticism following Morocco’s defeat against South Africa, leading to the national team’s early exit from AFCON in the Round of 16 match.
The Atlas Lions’ early exit was a shock and a disappointment to their fans as many expected the Moroccan team to build on their historic 2022 World Cup performances to win the continental tournament. Yet despite their disappointment at the Atlas Lions’ underwhelming AFCON performance, most Moroccan supporters have expressed support for Regragui to remain as head coach.
Morocco’s Football Federation (FMRF) has also renewed its confidence in Regragui, keeping him as the national team’s coach as Morocco prepares to host the 2025 AFCON.
The federation said it has assessed the reasons for Morocco’s shock exit at the latest continental tournament and is committed to continue to “delight the Moroccan fans in upcoming competitions, especially the 2026 World Cup qualifiers and the preparations for the Africa Cup of Nations, (which will be) hosted by Morocco.”
Moroccan fans in upcoming competitions, especially the 2026 World Cup qualifiers and the preparations for the Africa Cup of Nations, (which will be) hosted by Morocco.”
