Morocco: Walid Regragui dismisses defamation claims amid growing tensions ahead of AFCON

Morocco head coach Walid Regragui is reportedly at the centre of a defamation campaign circulating on social media, with just under six months remaining until the nation hosts the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.

According to Moroccan media, the 49-year-old coach has become the subject of coordinated online attacks aiming to destabilise the national team in the build-up to the prestigious tournament, which is scheduled to run from 21 December 2025 to 18 January 2026.

The campaign has been described by local commentators as “treacherous” and designed to create division within the squad, particularly around the figure of team captain Achraf Hakimi.

The Paris Saint-Germain defender, a national icon and frontrunner for the African Ballon d’Or, has been dragged into the controversy by way of fabricated quotes allegedly attributed to Regragui.

Among the claims is the suggestion that Regragui blamed Hakimi for Morocco’s shock exit from the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in Côte d’Ivoire, where the Atlas Lions were eliminated in the round of 16 by South Africa.

Les ennemis de l’intérieur cherchent à diviser, mais le peuple reste soudé derrière Walid Regragui ????????

On vise la 2e étoile chez nous, inchallah ⭐

Totale confiance en Walid✊????. pic.twitter.com/q7WTtbjLww

— FRMF Xtra (@FRMFXtra) June 22, 2025

Hakimi missed a crucial penalty in the 2-0 defeat, prompting comparisons to Hakim Ziyech’s heavily scrutinised spot-kick miss in the 2019 edition of the tournament.

“When Morocco was eliminated from the 2019 AFCON by Benin, everyone criticised Hakim Ziyech for missing a penalty. But at the last AFCON, I was the target of all the criticism, even though Hakimi also missed a penalty,” Regragui was falsely quoted as saying.

The alleged remarks have caused significant backlash, especially given Hakimi’s stature in Moroccan football.

Le sélectionneur national, Walid Regragui, subit une vague de fake news sur les réseaux sociaux. Plusieurs fausses déclarations sont crée pour but de porter atteinte à sa réputation et à la stabilité du Mountakhab.#LTM #FRMF #Maroc #HoalidRegragui #WalidRegragui #Mountakhab pic.twitter.com/Coq48kdt1d

— Les Talents Marocains ???????????????? (@LTMOfficiel212) June 22, 2025

However, Regragui’s supporters have moved quickly to denounce the statements as pure fabrication—labelling the accusations as baseless and damaging “fake news” intended to undermine the unity of the national team.

Observers believe the timing of the smear campaign is no coincidence, with pressure mounting ahead of a home AFCON where expectations are high for the Atlas Lions to make a deep run.

Public opinion in Morocco appears to be rallying behind Regragui, with many viewing the attacks as a distraction tactic designed to derail the nation’s preparation.

While Regragui has yet to make an official public statement on the matter, sources close to the coach insist he remains focused on his mission—building a team capable of delivering Morocco’s second AFCON title, 49 years after their first in 1976.