Former Morocco head coach Hervé Renard believes Walid Regragui will be immortalised if he leads the Atlas Lions to victory at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.
Morocco face Senegal in Sunday’s final at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium, with kick-off set for 19:00 GMT, in what promises to be a defining night for the host nation.
Speaking to Eurosport, Renard praised the measured approach taken by Regragui and his team throughout the tournament, insisting Morocco’s run has already been a success regardless of the final outcome.
“You don’t start at full speed and end up winning everything; that never happens,” Renard said. “Morocco built their tournament step by step. They beat Cameroon and Nigeria. Whatever happens, it’s a success.”
The former Zambia and Ivory Coast coach went a step further, suggesting Regragui’s status would reach legendary proportions with a title win.
“If he wins, a statue will have to be built for Walid,” Renard added.
Renard also brushed aside suggestions that Regragui’s past as a player—particularly his defeat in the 2004 AFCON final—could undermine his authority as a coach.
“No, that’s in the past. No coach builds a career on his reputation as a player,” he said.
He concluded with a pointed reflection on football’s culture of criticism, contrasting it with other professions.
“If you were a surgeon, no one would come and advise you during an operation because they don’t have the expertise. In football, everyone thinks they have the expertise,” Renard noted.
Renard ended on a reverential note, underlining Regragui’s standing in Morocco. “Today, Walid is a demi-god. Let him be.”
