Fouzi Lekjaa praises Walid Regragui’s legacy as Morocco begins new chapter with Mohamed Ouahbi

President of the Royal Moroccan Football Federation, Fouzi Lekjaa, paid tribute to Walid Regragui during a ceremony held at the Mohammed VI Football Complex, where the federation officially confirmed the coach’s departure and announced Mohamed Ouahbi as the new head coach of Morocco’s national team.

Speaking at the event, Lekjaa applauded Regragui for his remarkable contribution to Moroccan football, highlighting the historic achievement of guiding the national team to the semi-finals of the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.

He stressed that the accomplishment will remain a proud chapter in the country’s football history and will continue to inspire generations to come.

Lekjaa noted that Morocco’s run at the global tournament represented a defining moment for the nation’s football ambitions. According to him, the achievement helped the country move beyond the traditional mindset of merely participating in major competitions and instead fostered a new sense of belief and determination across the nation.

He also referenced the successes that followed, including Morocco’s victory at the FIFA Arab Cup and the triumph of the youth national team at the U-23 Africa Cup of Nations. Lekjaa described these accomplishments as clear signs of the progress that emerged under Regragui’s leadership.

The federation president explained that the ceremony was not solely about celebrating past achievements but also about setting the tone for the future.

He emphasised the need to maintain the high standards expected by King Mohammed VI and the Moroccan public as the national team prepares for new challenges.

Lekjaa further revealed that the federation recently conducted an in-depth evaluation of the team’s performance following the Africa Cup of Nations, with Regragui himself participating in the review process. The assessment, he said, was intended to identify lessons and strengthen the team’s direction moving forward.

He concluded by stressing that Morocco is not beginning a new journey from scratch, but rather continuing on a path that has already produced significant progress.

The ceremony ended with Regragui bidding farewell and the official confirmation of Ouahbi as his successor, marking the start of a new chapter as Morocco builds toward the next FIFA World Cup.