What does the future hold for Morocco coach Walid Regragui?

Doubt has set in. Barely has the chapter of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations closed, and an air of uncertainty now surrounds Walid Regragui’s future at the helm of the Moroccan national team.

🇲🇦🇸🇳 OH MY GOD! Walid Regragui and Pape Thiaw nearly came to blows after the match. 👊🏽👊🏿💥

The two managers. 🤯🤯🤯 pic.twitter.com/SDPWRH4yao

— Football Tweet ⚽ (@Footballtweet) January 18, 2026

The defeat in the final in Rabat has left its mark, both sporting and psychological, and the debate is already raging in the streets and among the country’s leaders: will Regragui remain in charge until the 2026 World Cup?

According to information gathered by Pan-Africa Football from sources close to the matter, Fouzi Lekjaa has decided to take a wait-and-see approach. The president of the Moroccan Football Federation has given his national team coach a few days’ respite, allowing him to recover after a demanding tournament and avoid making any decisions under pressure.

However, a crucial meeting is expected: it will serve to conduct a comprehensive review of the Africa Cup of Nations, analyze the decisions made, and, above all, outline the plans for the World Cup in the United States next summer.

In the Moroccan coach’s inner circle, uncertainty prevails. Regragui reportedly confided to close associates that he hasn’t ruled out resigning, despite a contract running until the end of 2026. Some of his past statements are now coming back to haunt him: his media appearance on the Spanish program El Chiringuito, in which he stated that a failure at home in the Africa Cup of Nations would open the door to his departure, is resurfacing with renewed intensity. The pressure he has faced in recent weeks—from a sporting, media, and emotional standpoint—only adds to the tense atmosphere.

The coach’s silence at the press conference on Sunday evening in Rabat only fueled the speculation. When asked about a possible resignation “today or tomorrow,” Regragui offered no response. For some, this evasion is tantamount to an admission; for others, it’s simply a matter of prudence.

In this tense atmosphere, several possibilities are emerging. At the federation, the option of extending the contract is not being ruled out: Lekjaa had already kept Regragui in his position after the early elimination in Côte d’Ivoire during the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations. But the possibility of a change before the 2026 World Cup is gaining traction.

Several Moroccan coaches are ready to step in. The name that comes up most frequently is that of Tarik Sektioui, who has had a remarkable rise: bronze medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics, victory at the African Nations Championship (CHAN), and most recently, the Arab Cup title in Qatar.

Morocco is thus entering a period of uncertainty. Between continuity and change, the decision promises to be crucial for the short term… as well as for the recent history of the Atlas Lions. The coming days will tell whether Walid Regragui will still be part of the journey to the United States, or if the page will be turned sooner than expected.

EDITOR NOTE: This article is translated from the original written in French by Omar Chraibi for Pan-Africa Football.

Fouzi Lekjaa opts for calm before judgment

According to information obtained by Pan-Africa Football from sources close to the matter, Fouzi Lekjaa, president of the Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF), has deliberately chosen a wait-and-see approach. No immediate decision has been taken regarding the national team coach.

Lekjaa has reportedly granted Regragui a few days of respite following an emotionally and physically demanding tournament. The aim is to avoid reactionary decisions taken under the weight of public pressure and media frenzy.

However, this pause is only temporary. A crucial meeting is expected in the coming days, during which the AFCON campaign will be dissected in detail. Tactical choices, squad management, and in-game decisions will be evaluated, but more importantly, the federation will seek clarity on the roadmap toward the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

Resignation not ruled out

Within Regragui’s inner circle, uncertainty reigns. Sources suggest that the Moroccan coach has confided to close associates that he has not ruled out stepping down, despite holding a contract that runs until the end of 2026.

Past statements are now resurfacing with renewed intensity. In particular, his appearance on the Spanish television program El Chiringuito, where he openly stated that failure at a home Africa Cup of Nations could justify his departure, is being widely replayed and debated across Moroccan media.

The pressure endured by Regragui over the past weeks—sporting, emotional, and media-driven—has been immense. Expectations were sky-high, and anything short of lifting the trophy was always likely to trigger controversy.

Silence that fuels speculation

Regragui’s silence during the post-match press conference on Sunday evening in Rabat has only deepened the mystery. When directly asked whether he could resign “today or tomorrow,” the coach declined to respond.

For some observers, this refusal to engage is interpreted as an implicit admission that his future is uncertain. For others, it reflects prudence and emotional restraint in the immediate aftermath of a devastating loss.

Either way, the lack of clarity has fueled speculation nationwide.

Continuity or change?

Within the federation, continuity remains a viable option. Fouzi Lekjaa has previously demonstrated loyalty, notably when he retained Regragui after Morocco’s early elimination at the 2023 AFCON in Côte d’Ivoire. That decision was later vindicated by strong performances and renewed cohesion within the squad.

However, this time, the context is different. The pressure of a home final lost, combined with looming World Cup ambitions, has reopened the debate. The possibility of a coaching change before 2026 is now being discussed more openly than at any point in Regragui’s tenure.

Potential successors waiting in the wings

Several Moroccan coaches are reportedly ready to step in should the federation decide to turn the page. One name dominates conversations: Tarik Sektioui.