Mohamed Ouahbi confirmed as new Morocco head coach after Walid Regragui’s exit

The Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) has confirmed the appointment of Mohamed Ouahbi as the new head coach of the Morocco national football team.

Ouahbi takes over from Walid Regragui, who stepped down following Morocco’s painful exit from the Africa Cup of Nations after a chaotic final defeat to Senegal national football team on January 18.

Regragui had previously hinted he would resign if Morocco failed to win the continental title, a statement that intensified speculation about his future after the tournament. His name had also been linked with a possible move to Olympique de Marseille, particularly after developments involving former sporting director Mehdi Benatia.

Regragui’s remarkable but pressured tenure

Regragui was appointed on August 31, 2022, replacing Vahid Halilhodžić just three months before the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar. He signed a contract that was meant to run through the next World Cup cycle.

By the time he took the national job, the Moroccan coach had already built a strong reputation. Earlier in 2022, he led Wydad Casablanca to the CAF Champions League title after defeating Al Ahly SC in the final. Years earlier, he had also guided FUS Rabat to their first league championship in seven decades.

Those successes underlined his ability to manage high-pressure situations and deliver results. More importantly, he brought unity and belief to the national team ahead of the tournament in Qatar.

At the World Cup, Regragui guided Morocco to a historic semi-final finish, becoming the first African and Arab nation to reach that stage of the competition. The run transformed the global perception of the Atlas Lions and elevated them among the world’s most respected national teams.

His overall record with Morocco remained impressive — 35 wins, nine draws and only five defeats — with the team climbing to eighth in the FIFA world rankings, the highest ever achieved by an African nation.

However, expectations grew rapidly, particularly when Morocco entered AFCON hoping to end a 50-year wait for continental glory. Their last triumph came in 1976.

The tournament exposed the intense pressure surrounding the team. Regragui faced criticism over squad selections and player management, particularly his decision to keep captain Romain Saïss on the pitch despite injury concerns. Saïss later announced his retirement from international football, symbolizing a team caught between ambition and transition.

Ultimately, the same high standards Regragui established in Qatar became the benchmark by which his AFCON campaign was judged — and anything short of lifting the trophy was viewed as failure.

Ouahbi’s rise and credentials

Regragui’s departure signals the beginning of a new era, with Ouahbi stepping into the senior role. He will be assisted by former José Mourinho aide João Sacramento and former Morocco international Youssouf Hadji.

Ouahbi is already well known within Moroccan football. Since March 2022, he has been heavily involved in the country’s youth development system and led the Morocco U-20 side to victory at the FIFA U-20 World Cup in 2025, defeating Argentina national under-20 football team in the final.

Before joining Morocco’s national setup, he spent 17 years working at the academy of Belgian giants RSC Anderlecht, where he helped develop young players who later progressed to top European leagues. He holds a UEFA Pro Licence, the highest coaching qualification in European football.

Known for his structured and disciplined approach, Ouahbi places strong emphasis on youth development and long-term planning. His work with Morocco’s U-20 side demonstrated that philosophy.

The team reached the final of the Africa U-20 Cup of Nations in May 2025, narrowly losing 1-0. Rather than viewing the defeat as a setback, Ouahbi described it as a learning experience for the squad.

Just months later, that same group achieved a historic milestone by winning the U-20 World Cup, Morocco’s first title at that level and a landmark moment for Arab football.

His promotion reflects the federation’s broader strategy of building continuity through youth development. Morocco’s football resurgence has largely been driven by players raised in European systems, and Ouahbi’s background aligns perfectly with that model.

A crucial transition before the World Cup

The coaching change comes at a delicate moment. With the next FIFA World Cup only months away, Ouahbi has limited time to settle into the senior role.

His immediate priority will be restoring stability after a turbulent AFCON campaign marked by controversy and criticism. Managing player workloads, rebuilding confidence and making key selection decisions will be central to his early work.

Beyond the short term, Morocco’s broader football project — built on youth development, infrastructure investment and international ambition — continues to gather momentum.

The challenge now is to convert that progress into sustained success at senior level. With his strong youth development background and recent tournament triumph, Ouahbi is seen as a coach capable of guiding Morocco through the next phase of its football evolution.