In a shocking move that has sent ripples through the football world, Morocco coach Walid Regragui has stepped down from his position. And here's the kicker - this happened less than 100 days before the 2026 World Cup kicks off in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
Regragui announced his departure at a late-night press conference on Thursday, alongside Fouzi Lekjaa, the president of Morocco's football federation. "The team needs a fresh face, a different energy, and a new perspective with a new coach," Regragui explained. He believes Morocco needs a new vision to keep progressing ahead of the biggest tournament in football.
The 50-year-old coach made history by leading Morocco to the semifinals at the 2022 World Cup - the first time any African or Arab nation had reached that stage. But despite that incredible achievement, the pressure mounted after Morocco's heartbreaking 1-0 loss to Senegal in the Africa Cup of Nations final in January. Making it sting even more? Morocco was hosting the tournament on home soil.
Ouahbi Steps Up to the Challenge
Mohamed Ouahbi is the man taking over the hot seat. The 49-year-old Belgian-Moroccan previously led Morocco's under-20 team to glory at the Youth World Cup. This will be his first crack at managing a senior national team, which makes it quite the leap into the deep end.
"I'm not here to build, because the foundations are already in place. I'm here to keep performing," Ouahbi said confidently. He's bringing in Joao Sacramento as his assistant coach - a Portuguese tactician who's worked with Jose Mourinho at both Roma and Tottenham, and also spent time at Paris Saint-Germain.
For anyone looking at Morocco's World Cup odds, this coaching change adds an interesting wrinkle. The Atlas Lions are in Group C alongside Brazil, Haiti, and Scotland - a tough but manageable draw. Bookmakers will likely adjust their lines as we see how Ouahbi's team performs in their warm-up matches against Ecuador on March 27 and Paraguay on March 31.
Why the Change Now?
Regragui faced growing criticism despite his World Cup heroics. Morocco hasn't won a continental trophy since 1975, and expectations skyrocketed after their 2022 success. Some fans and media members weren't happy with what they saw as overly defensive tactics, especially after disappointing performances at previous tournaments.
Morocco captain Achraf Hakimi paid tribute to his former coach on social media, calling Regragui a "legend" whose "leadership, passion, and vision inspired not only the players, but also an entire country and millions of fans around the world."
Morocco is clearly thinking big picture here. The country is investing billions in sports infrastructure and will co-host the 2030 World Cup with Spain and Portugal. They're even building the Hassan II Stadium, set to be the world's largest football venue with 115,000 seats. With ambitions that massive, Morocco's football federation clearly felt they needed a change to maximize their chances at the 2026 tournament.
