Morocco in talks with Stade de Reims assistant Samba Diawara

The Federation royale marocaine de football (FRMF) has opened discussions with Stade de Reims assistant coach Samba Diawara about joining Mohamed Ouahbi’s coaching staff.

Diawara, 48, remains under contract at Reims, where he currently works under Nicolas Usai after previously serving alongside Karel Geraerts last season. No agreement has been finalised, but the Franco-Malian is understood to be under consideration by the Moroccan federation, according to journalist Sacha Tavolieri of Sky Sport Suisse.

The former defender was born in Paris and represented Mali 14 times during his playing career. He is not Senegalese, despite what some observers might assume from his first and family names.

After moving into coaching, Diawara worked at Charleroi and Anderlecht, mainly as an assistant or with youth teams, before joining Reims in November 2022.

His experience across youth development and senior football fits the policy pursued by the FRMF in recent years. Ouahbi’s staff has already been assembled around a mixture of complementary profiles, with Joao Sacramento serving as first assistant.

Diawara gradually assumed greater responsibility in Champagne. Following several spells as caretaker, he was appointed Reims head coach in February 2025. Despite difficult sporting circumstances, he guided the club to the Coupe de France final, where they were beaten by PSG.

The arrival of Geraerts subsequently returned Diawara to an assistant role.

His knowledge of French-speaking football, work with young players and ability to operate within different coaching structures are all believed to have attracted the FRMF’s attention.

The precise nature of any potential appointment has yet to be decided. Two options are reportedly being considered: Diawara could join Ouahbi directly with the senior Morocco team, the Atlas Lions, or take up a position with Morocco’s U23 side.

The discussions come after uncertainty over the identity of Ouahbi’s second assistant. Adil Ramzi and Youssouf Hadji had competed for the role, with Hadji eventually confirmed in the position.

Some sources have also suggested Diawara could be appointed as an assistant national team coach. However, negotiations remain ongoing and the federation has made no official announcement.

If he does join Morocco, Diawara would bring an additional layer of experience to a coaching set-up preparing to begin a new cycle after the 2026 World Cup. His background as an African international and his recognised work in player development could also help provide continuity between the different national-team age groups.

It remains to be seen whether the FRMF places him immediately alongside Ouahbi or initially assigns him to the Morocco U23 team.