In a dramatic shift just months before the 2026 World Cup, Morocco’s national football team has severed ties with head coach Walid Regragui. The decision comes despite Regragui’s historic achievement of guiding the Atlas Lions to become the first African semifinalists in World Cup history during the 2022 tournament in Qatar.
The Royal Moroccan Football Federation has appointed 49-year-old Mohamed Ouahbi as Regragui’s successor, promoting him from the under-23 squad. This strategic move mirrors Regragui’s own appointment in August 2022, just three months before the previous World Cup.
Official statements characterized the change as part of a “structured roadmap” for Moroccan football’s continuous development rather than a simple coaching swap. The federation’s decision follows Morocco’s recent Africa Cup of Nations final appearance on home soil, where they suffered a heartbreaking 1-0 extra-time defeat to Senegal in a match marred by controversy when Senegal briefly refused to play after a late penalty award.
Regragui, who also led Wydad Casablanca to the African Champions League title before taking the national team job, acknowledged the need for fresh leadership. “The team needs a new lease of life before the World Cup, a new vision to continue progressing,” stated the departing coach, who had faced mounting pressure to deliver Morocco’s first continental title since 1976.
Team captain Achraf Hakimi paid tribute to Regragui’s “unforgettable mark on Moroccan football history” as the team prepares for a challenging World Cup campaign. Morocco will open against five-time champions Brazil on June 13th before facing Scotland and Haiti in Group C. The North African side will test their new leadership in upcoming friendlies against Ecuador and Paraguay during the next international window.