Walid Regragui faced calls for his resignation during a tense post-match press conference after Morocco lost the final of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations on home soil, an episode that underlined the pressure surrounding the Atlas Lions following defeat.
Morocco fell 1-0 to Senegal in Sunday’s final at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat, a result that left the head coach visibly affected as he addressed the media.
The loss, delivered in front of a home crowd, capped a frustrating evening for Regragui and set the tone for a strained exchange with journalists.
Tensions from the match carried into the press room. Regragui had already expressed anger over the confusion that followed a penalty awarded to Morocco in the 97th minute, an incident that sparked disorder late in the game.
That frustration intensified when a Moroccan journalist directly invited the coach to step down from his position.
The question prompted a sharp response. Regragui immediately challenged the journalist, rejecting the premise of the request and questioning its legitimacy.
“Next, that’s not a question. Which Moroccan newspaper is this?” he replied curtly, before another journalist intervened to clarify the situation.
“He has the right. He has the right to ask the question.”
The exchange highlighted the strained atmosphere surrounding the national team after a tournament that ended without the trophy many supporters had expected.
While the defeat in the final marked the most painful setback, debate over Regragui’s future had already begun earlier in the competition.
Scrutiny increased after Morocco drew 1-1 with Mali on 26 December during the second matchday of the group stage, a result that raised doubts despite the team’s progress to the final.
That performance triggered discussion within Moroccan football circles about the direction of the squad and the decisions taken by the coaching staff.
According to Moroccan media reports, Regragui later held a meeting with Fouzi Lekjaa, the president of the Royal Moroccan Football Federation.
Despite the disappointment of the AFCON final and the public criticism aired during the press conference, there has been no immediate indication of a change in leadership.
Barring an unexpected reversal, Regragui is expected to remain in charge and lead the Atlas Lions into the World Cup scheduled for June and July.
For now, the focus remains on managing the fallout from a painful defeat and restoring calm after a press conference that reflected the depth of frustration felt in Moroccan football.
