Despite Morocco’s defeat at the Africa Cup of Nations, Walid Regragui will remain coach, the national football body announced on Monday.
Morocco had high hopes in the Ivory Coast after Regragui guided them to the 2022 World Cup semifinals in Qatar, a first for any African nation.
The Atlas Lions finished first in their group with two victories and a draw, but lost 2-0 to South Africa in the round of 16, causing disappointment, according to the federation.
“I failed. “It’s my failure, not the players,” said Regragui, who had previously stated he would step down if Morocco did not advance to the quarter-finals.
However, the 48-year-old head coach will remain in place, with the Moroccan federation stating that it wants to “mobilise all means to ensure full success for the national team” ahead of the 2025 AFCON and 2030 World Cup, both of which are scheduled to take place in the North African country.
Regragui’s AFCON experience was further hampered by a suspension by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) following a confrontation with Congolese defender Chancel Mbemba at the end of a group match – a decision that was later overturned after an appeal from the Moroccan federation.