Walid Regragui has rejected suggestions that his position was under threat earlier in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, insisting that scrutiny is simply part of life as Morocco head coach.
The Atlas Lions meet Nigeria’s Super Eagles in Wednesday’s semi-final after navigating a tournament that has not been without tension.
A 2-0 opening win over Comoros was followed by a frustrating 1-1 draw against Mali, a result that sparked debate at home and reignited speculation about the coach’s future.
Addressing those doubts in a pre-match press conference, Regragui offered a firm defence of his record and appeared unfazed by the noise surrounding the team.
“I’ve only lost four times in three and a half years, and I’ve taken my country to the semi-finals of the World Cup [2022] and the AFCON [2025]. In reality, nobody should be talking, but in Morocco, it’s different, and you have to accept it. I hope the next coach will do even better than me ,” Walid said.
The remarks, delivered with a mixture of realism and defiance, highlighted the unique pressure that comes with managing a national side playing on home soil.
Morocco are hosting the tournament and entered it with high expectations, fuelled by their historic run to the World Cup semi-finals in Qatar in 2022.
After the uneasy start to the group stage, Regragui’s side steadied themselves.
A commanding 3-0 victory over Zambia restored confidence, and the knockout phase has seen the Atlas Lions grow in authority.
They edged past Tanzania 1-0 in the round of 16 before producing one of their most assured performances of the competition in a 2-0 quarter-final win over Cameroon.
Those results have helped to shift the narrative from uncertainty to momentum, yet the coach’s words suggest he remains acutely aware of the fragile nature of public opinion in Morocco.
The suggestion that his job may have been at risk after just two matches was a measure of how demanding the environment has become.
Regragui’s comments were not an admission of defeat, but rather an acknowledgment that even recent success offers no immunity from criticism.
🎙️🇲🇦 Walid Regragui : « Je n’ai perdu que 4 fois, et j’ai emmené mon pays en demi-finales de la CDM et de la CAN. ❤️
En réalité, personne ne devrait parler, mais au Maroc, c’est différent, et il faut l’accepter.
J’espère que le prochain sélectionneur fera encore mieux que moi.» pic.twitter.com/PpihmoWYLa
— FRMF Xtra (@FRMFXtra) January 13, 2026
Morocco’s route to the semi-finals has been built on resilience as much as flair, and that trait now defines their campaign.
Facing Nigeria, a side renowned for its depth and physical presence, represents their sternest test yet.
The match is being framed as a battle between two heavyweights of African football, each seeking to reclaim continental glory.
For Regragui, the semi-final is also a chance to reinforce his standing and to remind observers of the progress made under his leadership.
His record speaks of rare defeats and deep tournament runs, yet he accepts that, in Morocco, that is rarely enough to silence debate.
As the Atlas Lions prepare for the Super Eagles, the coach’s message is clear: speculation will always follow, but results remain the only true answer. Whether that answer carries Morocco into the AFCON final will be decided on the pitch, not in the headlines.
