Regragui's Contract and Federation: Debate Over AFCON 2023 and 2025 Objectives

23 January 2026at16:09

Widespread discussions have recently emerged regarding the terms of the contract linking national coach Walid Regragui with the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF), especially following the Moroccan national team's loss in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final to Senegal. Some reports circulated that Regragui's contract only stipulated reaching the semi-finals of the 2025 edition hosted by Morocco, a goal that was achieved before reaching and losing the final. However, previous information indicates a discrepancy in the officially announced ambitions.

During the press conference where Walid Regragui was introduced as the national team coach in 2022, Fouzi Lekjaa, President of the Royal Moroccan Football Federation, confirmed that the objective set at that time was to reach the semi-finals of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations held in Ivory Coast, without mentioning the 2025 edition, which Morocco later hosted.

This information reignites the debate surrounding the declared and undeclared contractual objectives, as well as the evaluation of the Moroccan national team's participation in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations finals, amid differing interpretations regarding the ceiling of ambition set for the technical staff and the national team.

The circulating notion that Walid Regragui's contract with the Royal Moroccan Football Federation only included a clause to reach the Africa Cup of Nations semi-finals remains illogical. This is especially true given the context of the 2025 edition, where the Moroccan national team was considered the primary favorite to win the title. The Federation had provided all suitable conditions to achieve this goal and itself aspired to lift the continental trophy. Therefore, setting a semi-final target for the AFCON in Morocco appears illogical and closer to a rumor.

While awaiting clarification from the Royal Moroccan Football Federation regarding the true contractual objectives, uncertainty persists about Walid Regragui's future. It remains to be seen whether the Federation will renew its confidence in him to continue leading the national team's technical staff or opt for a change, as the coming days are expected to reveal more.

Q&A

What were Walid Regragui's contract objectives for the AFCON tournaments?

FRMF President Lekjaa initially set the AFCON 2023 semi-finals as the objective. Reports of a 2025 semi-final target are considered illogical, especially as Morocco was heavily favored to win the 2025 title.

What is the current status of Walid Regragui's future with the Moroccan national team?

Walid Regragui's future is uncertain as the FRMF has not clarified his true contractual objectives. A decision on renewing his confidence or making a change is anticipated in the coming days.

Morocco

Walid Regragui