Following a 2-0 defeat against South Africa, Walid Regragui, Morocco’s head coach, graciously acknowledged his opponents’ victory and expressed deep regret for falling short of their goals in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.
Despite being semi-finalists in the previous World Cup in Qatar, Morocco, considered one of the favourites, faced an unexpected elimination by South Africa in the round of 16.
In the aftermath of this disappointing outcome, Regragui voiced his disappointment, implicitly hinting at a departure, stating;
“Leaving the tournament immediately was not planned.”
He took responsibility for the team’s errors, acknowledging the difficulties of the competition and expressing the need for reflection on his part.
Returning home, Regragui plans to analyze the shortcomings during AFCON 2023, especially in the match against South Africa, aiming to make necessary corrections and build a stronger team.
He emphasized the importance of the younger players learning from the experience.
Looking ahead, Regragui discussed the future of the Moroccan team, a semi-finalist in the 2022 World Cup, and hinted at discussions with the president to evaluate objectives set for the African Cup.
He concluded, “We must take our responsibilities, at least mine, today.”
