Walid Regragui: Morocco Coach Makes Shocking Decision 3 Weeks After AFCON 2025 Final Loss

Morocco coach Walid Regragui has reportedly resigned just over a couple of weeks after losing the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final.

Regragui is regarded by many as the most successful Morocco coach after guiding the Atlas Lions to the semi-final of the 2022 World Cup, a first-ever for an African nation, and leading his team to the 2025 AFCON final.

Morocco were a penalty away from winning African football’s most coveted prize during last month’s final against Senegal but Brahim Diaz missed a contested last-minute penalty when he attempted a Panenka.

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It sent the game to extra time where Senegal’s Pape Gueye scored to guide the Teranga Lions to victory as Regragui’s men suffered heartbreak at home.

Following the loss, there have been calls from some quarters for Regragui to resign and reports on Friday say he has handed his resignation to the Royal Morocco Football Association headed by Fouzi Lekjaa.

The former FAR Rabat and Wydad Athletic Club coach is reportedly ‘exhausted’ by the highly-demanding job and is looking for a way out at a time when Morocco are looking forward to the 2026 World Cup.

French outlet RMC Sport say Lekjaa and his team have not formally accepted Regragui’s resignation but the coach has already made up his mind with reports indicating that he is wanted by clubs in Saudi Arabia and Qatar.

The 50-year-old took over in September 2022 just months to that year’s World Cup and recorded a historic run in Qatar and he leaves with an impressive record of 36 wins, eight draws and five losses in 49 games in charge of the Atlas Lions.

With Regragui not keen to continue, Tarik Sektioui has been installed as hot favourite to become the next Morocco coach after guiding a team of local-based players to success at the 2024 African Nations Championships (CHAN 2024) as well as the 2025 Arab Cup success.

Morocco were drawn in Group C for the 2026 World Cup alongside Brazil, Scotland and Haiti and will begin their campaign against the five-time world champions on June 14.