A broad segment of social media users in Morocco has reacted with profound surprise to the statement issued by the Moroccan Football Coaches’ Association, headed by Abdelhak Mandouza.
The statement expressed dismay over the criticism directed at Walid Rachraki by the public following the team’s elimination from the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), stating that such criticism “does not serve the interests of Moroccan football.”
Many in the online community found the Association’s statement to be an infringement on the freedom of Moroccan football fans to critique the coach, especially considering the unexpected elimination in the round of sixteen of the AFCON, which undermined the established objectives between the national coach and the Royal Moroccan Football Federation.
Observers pointed to the Football Federation’s statement endorsing Walid Rachraki in his position, while also acknowledging the need to identify the shortcomings evident in the Moroccan national team’s participation in the AFCON, particularly during the match against South Africa in the round of sixteen.
This evaluation came after meetings between Fouzi Lekjaa, the president of the National Teams Committee, and Walid Rachraki.
Commentators within the Moroccan fanbase emphasized that criticizing players and the national team staff remains a legitimate right for supporters, especially following the failure to achieve results commensurate with expectations after the promising performance of the national team at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, which heightened the expectations of the Moroccan public.
On Monday, the Football Federation renewed its confidence in Walid Rachraki as the coach of the Moroccan national team.
Fouzi Lekjaa, the president of the Royal Moroccan Football Federation, emphasized “the need to continue working and exerting maximum effort to give the national team and football the recognition they deserve to delight Moroccan fans in the upcoming competitions, notably the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers and preparations for the African Cup of Nations, which Morocco will host next summer, embodying the supreme care given by King Mohammed VI to Moroccan football.”
This statement from the Football Federation signals ongoing support for Rachraki despite criticism from certain quarters, highlighting the Federation’s commitment to stability and progress within Moroccan football.
