Regragui: Fans Must Always Back the National Team, Regardless of Result; U17s Proved Doubters Wrong
National coach Walid Regragui stressed the importance of continuous fan support for the national team, regardless of the result. He highlighted that fan backing is a crucial element in achieving major successes, citing the example of the U17 national team, which secured qualification for the knockout stages of the U17 World Cup despite initial fan dissatisfaction.
Speaking at the press conference following the 1-0 victory over Mozambique, Regragui said: "Compared to the number of chances we create, we don't score the number of goals we desire, but that depends on the nature of the match. We have won previous games with large margins, scoring seven or four goals, and it's not always possible to be 100% effective."
He continued: "The most important thing is knowing how to solve problems. We have talented players who score with their clubs, and I am confident they will be ready when the tournament begins. What always matters to me is achieving victory and reaching the attacking third."
He added: "Morocco has always awaited winning the Africa Cup of Nations, and this is not a new thing; since I was born, Moroccans have been anticipating this triumph. The title will come through will, the way we play, in addition to the support of the fans who backed us today."
He further stated: "Today we saw the U17 national team, and I want to tell them: 'Well done.' Just 15 days ago, the public was not satisfied with them, saying they wouldn't achieve anything. Some were surprised when I asked the fans to applaud them despite a six-goal loss, but when the fans gave them confidence, they won by a big margin and qualified. This is football; it has wins and losses."
He continued: "But the fans must always remain behind the national team and show the players that we support them, no matter the result. Just as we can score at the beginning, we can also score in the final moments."
He concluded: "There isn't a Moroccan who doesn't want to win the Africa Cup of Nations, and God willing, with everyone united, we will achieve that. We began preparing for this goal a year ago."
