فاس نيوز ميديا جريدة الكترونية جهوية تعنى بشؤون و أخبار جهة فاس مكناس – متجددة على مدار الساعة
Rabat: National team coach Walid Regragui has set an ultimatum regarding his future with the Atlas Lions: win the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) on home soil or leave.
During his appearance on the popular Spanish sports program “El Chiringuito” on the Mega channel on Monday evening, Regragui stated clearly: “If we don’t win the AFCON, I will leave. That’s the challenge I’m setting for myself.”
He added: “In this profession, if you don’t win, decisions come quickly. Not winning the next AFCON would mean the end of my contract with the national team.”
The national team coach, who led Morocco to the semi-finals of the 2022 World Cup, emphasized that this continental competition represents a significant national challenge. He mentioned the high level of public expectation and media pressure on the national team, especially considering that Morocco has only won the AFCON once in its history, back in 1976.
Regragui affirmed: “The Moroccans deserve this title. The passion for football is incredible in Morocco. Not a day goes by without someone asking me to win the AFCON.”
Regarding his professional future, Regragui clarified that his current contract runs until the 2026 World Cup, scheduled to be held in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
The coach, whose team reached the quarter-finals of the last AFCON, also highlighted the positive performance of the Moroccan national team since their elimination from the previous continental tournament, stating that “Morocco hasn’t lost any official match since June 2023. We only need one more point to qualify for the next World Cup.”
He expressed his hope to lead the national team to a historic seventh participation in the World Cup finals (eighth if the de facto qualification for the 2030 World Cup is counted), their third consecutive appearance, before Morocco co-hosts the 2030 edition with Spain and Portugal.
