Walid Regragui admitted deep disappointment after Morocco’s 1–0 defeat to Senegal in the AFCON 2025 final but promised to keep building a stronger national team for the future.
Speaking after the match at Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat, he stressed that the loss does not erase the work and progress shown throughout the tournament.
Regragui said that “small details decided the final,” noting that Morocco came very close to the title, especially after earning a late penalty. He described that moment as extremely frustrating for Moroccan fans, explaining that when a team gets a penalty in the final minute, everyone feels victory is within reach, but football “can be cruel sometimes.”
The coach underlined that, despite the heartbreak, his players gave a huge effort across the competition and showed strong commitment to the shirt. He expressed confidence that they will return “even stronger” in upcoming challenges and confirmed that the staff will continue their work on this project.
Regragui did not hide his dissatisfaction with certain aspects surrounding the tournament, saying that the image of African football was damaged by what happened from the start of the competition. He regretted the “toxic atmosphere” that, in his view, overshadowed what should have been a celebration of the game.
Despite the disappointment, Regragui made a point of congratulating Senegal on their triumph, sending them a clear “bravo” for winning the title.
He closed by insisting that Morocco’s long-term project remains intact and that “Morocco will come back stronger,” signalling that the aim is still to compete for major trophies in the years ahead.
