Regragui’s legacy vs. Ouahbi’s vision: what the future holds for Morocco ahead of 2026 | OneFootball

Atlas Lions begin new chapter after historic coaching spell

Regragui’s legacy vs. Ouahbi’s vision: what the future holds for Morocco ahead of 2026

Morocco officially ended Walid Regragui’s contract and appointed Mohamed Ouahbi as head coach ahead of World Cup2026 .

End of a historic era for Morocco

The Royal Moroccan Football Federation officially ended the contract of Walid Regragui after the coach submitted his resignation following Morocco’s exit from the Africa Cup of Nations round of 16.

Regragui leaves after one of the most successful periods in the history of Morocco national team. His tenure began shortly before the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar where he guided the Atlas Lions to a historic semi-final, the best result ever achieved by African team in the tournament.

The team later reached the AFCON 2025 final on 18 January losing 1-0 to Senegal after extra time. It was Morocco’s first continental final since 2004.

Strong record despite recent pressure

During his time in charge, Regragui built impressive record. He led Morocco in 49 match between 2022 & 2025 winning 36 game drawing 8 and losing only 5.

The team also enjoyed a remarkable run of 19 consecutive victories which ended with a 1–1 draw against Mali on 26 December 2023.

However criticism began to grow after Morocco were eliminated in the AFCON 2023 round of 16 by South Africa on 30 January 2024.

Questions were raised about the team’s playing style and Regragui’s relationship with the media.

The pressure returned after Morocco lost the AFCON 2025 final at home despite the strong tournament run.

Mohamed Ouahbi takes charge

The federation has now appointed Mohamed Ouahbi as the new head coach. Ouahbi gained attention after winning the U20 World Cup in October and is now tasked with leading the national team ahead of World Cup 2026.

The new coaching staff will include Joao Sacramento, a former assistant to Jose Mourinho, along with former Morocco striker Youssef Hadji.

Before choosing Ouahbi, the federation reportedly explored other options. Talks with Xavi Hernandez did not progress while Olympic coach Tarik Sektioui was also mentioned as a candidate.

A difficult task ahead

Ouahbi now faces a challenging mission. Regragui is widely seen as one of the greatest coaches in Morocco’s modern history, thanks to the World Cup breakthrough and the AFCON final run.

According to L’Équipe, some fans who had criticized Regragui during difficult moments are already expressing regret after his departure.