Walid Regragui admitted that losing the AFCON 2025 final with Morocco was extremely painful, stressing that football “can be cruel” on nights decided by tiny details and complicated scenarios.
The Atlas Lions coach also made it clear that he fully accepts responsibility for the failure to lift the trophy.
Regragui explained that the match “turned against” Morocco after they were forced to play extra time with ten men, a situation that heavily influenced the flow of the game. He underlined that winning a continental title is never easy and demands work, patience, and perseverance, insisting that Morocco will come back stronger rather than reacting with impulsive decisions.
The coach described the final as “Hitchcock-like,” saying the team paid a heavy price not only in terms of the result but also through the serious injury suffered by Hamza Igamane, which is feared to be a cruciate ligament tear that could end his season.
He added that the match was balanced overall, as expected, but that small details, especially the missed penalty, shifted momentum decisively.
Regragui clarified that Brahim Diaz is the first-choice penalty taker and that missing from the spot is part of football, reminding everyone of a previous miss by Achraf Hakimi in another tournament. He pointed to the long delay before the kick as a factor that may have disturbed Diaz mentally, but refused to blame the player.
Commenting on Senegal coach Pape Thiaw’s gesture of asking his players to leave the pitch during the controversy, Regragui said it was “regrettable” because such actions harm the image of football, while still congratulating Senegal and insisting on staying classy.
He concluded by stating that every tactical choice becomes open to criticism when the result is negative, and repeated: “I take responsibility for this failure,” while singling out goalkeeper Yassine Bounou as a true “legend in Morocco and Africa” for his leadership and decisive saves.
