Ex-Morocco coach Walid Regragui cites respect for declining podium appearance at Mohammed Wahbi’s presentation

Former Morocco head coach Walid Regragui has clarified the circumstances surrounding his farewell ceremony with the Atlas Lions, explaining that his actions during the event were driven by respect for his successor, Mohamed Wahbi, rather than any form of disagreement or tension.

Regragui stepped down last Thursday as the head coach of the North African giants, with Wahbi replacing him ahead of the 2026 World Cup tournament during a ceremony attended by the Moroccan FA president Fouzi Lekjaa.

However, Regragui’s decision not to step onto the podium during Wahbi’s official introduction sparked speculation among observers and fans. Speaking to the Moroccan newspaper Al-Mountakhab, the former coach moved quickly to clarify the situation.

“Indeed, Fouzi Lekjaa invited me to go up to the podium to participate in introducing my colleague Mohamed Wahbi as the new technical director of Morocco, but I refused to go up,” Regragui explained.

According to the former Atlas Lions boss, his decision was intentional and rooted in professional etiquette. Regragui said he wanted the moment of Wahbi’s presentation to remain entirely focused on the new coach.

“I did that because I consider the presentation of any national coach to be a historic moment that will be remembered,” he said. “No other party should compete with him at that moment. The beautiful image that we all cherish as coaches is the image of handing over the national team jersey with the name on it.”

Regragui stressed that there should be no misunderstanding regarding his actions. He insisted that his refusal to appear on the stage was simply a gesture of respect to ensure that Wahbi’s appointment received the full attention it deserved.

“There is no need for any misinterpretation,” he added. “What I did was respect Wahbi’s right to have complete privacy for the presentation, and he understood the matter well.”

The former coach also addressed another point that raised questions among the media: his early departure from the press conference held by Wahbi after the announcement.

Regragui explained that leaving the venue was another professional decision intended to avoid placing his successor in an uncomfortable situation.

“It is not appropriate for me to sit in front of Wahbi while he is talking about a phase following the phase in which I coached the Moroccan national team,” he said. “He should not feel any embarrassment when talking about a team that I had just coached.”

He continued by emphasizing that his decision was made purely out of consideration for Wahbi.

“Out of respect for Wahbi and to relieve him of any embarrassment when he talks about things related to the team I left him and the work I did, I left the conference hall so that he would have complete freedom to express his opinion.”

Despite stepping away from the role, Regragui made it clear that he maintains a strong relationship with Wahbi and fully supports the new coach as he begins his tenure with the Atlas Lions.

“What connects me to Mohamed Wahbi and what I know about him makes me confident about the future of the Moroccan national team,” Regragui said. “I am ready to help him at any time. I spoke to him at length and wished him success in his duties.”

Wahbi takes over the Moroccan national team with growing recognition after guiding Morocco’s youth side to victory at the FIFA U‑20 World Cup 2025 in Chile in October 2025. His appointment signals the federation’s intention to build on that success as the senior team prepares for major upcoming competitions.

His first challenge will come later this month when Morocco faces Ecuador on March 27 in Madrid before taking on Uruguay in France on March 31 in a pair of international friendlies designed to fine-tune preparations for the 2026 World Cup.

Regragui leaves behind a significant legacy. Appointed in August 2022, he guided Morocco to a historic fourth-place finish at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar — the best performance ever by an African nation in the tournament.

However, his tenure ended on a bittersweet note following Morocco’s defeat in the final of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, where the Atlas Lions lost 1-0 to Senegal after extra time at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium.

Looking ahead, Morocco is preparing for another major challenge at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, where the Atlas Lions have been drawn in Group C alongside Brazil, Scotland, and Haiti.

While Regragui’s chapter with the national team has come to an end, his message was clear: his departure was handled with professionalism and respect, and he remains firmly behind Wahbi as Morocco begins a new era.