Morocco turn to Ouahbi for leadership after coach Walid Regragui's departure
Morocco have begun a new chapter in their national team journey after head coach Walid Regragui stepped down from his role, with the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) accepting his resignation only months before the start of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The decision brings to a close a period of uncertainty following Morocco’s defeat in the final of the 2025 TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations, a result that intensified debate over the future direction of the Atlas Lions.
Regragui travelled to Morocco in recent days to complete the necessary administrative procedures that formally ended his contract, concluding a tenure that lasted just over three years.
During that period he guided Morocco through one of the most remarkable chapters in African football history, but his departure now signals a shift in focus as the country prepares for its next challenge on the global stage.
Regragui confirmed that the decision to step aside was taken with the team’s future in mind when he was honoured by the FRMF on Thursday night following his decision to leave the position.
“The team needs a fresh face, a different energy, and a new perspective with a new coach,” he said.
“I think the team needs a new lease of life before the World Cup, a new vision to continue progressing. My decision to leave is part of this team’s evolution.”
The departure marks the end of a chapter that many Moroccan supporters regard as one of the most influential in the nation’s football history.
Morocco captain Achraf Hakimi paid tribute to the outgoing coach on social media, saying Regragui had “left an unforgettable mark on the history of Moroccan football”.
AFCON disappointment sparks change
Pressure on the Moroccan coaching staff increased significantly after the Atlas Lions failed to secure the continental title at the 2025 AFCON, which they hosted on home soil.
Expectations had been high throughout the tournament, with many observers predicting Morocco would lift the trophy in front of their supporters.
However, their hopes were dashed in the final when Senegal national football team secured a narrow victory following a tense and dramatic contest in Rabat.
In the aftermath of that defeat, speculation grew over whether Morocco would maintain continuity or opt for a fresh approach ahead of the World Cup.
End of a memorable era
Regragui’s tenure will nonetheless be remembered as one of the most successful periods in Moroccan football.
Appointed in August 2022, he quickly transformed the Atlas Lions into one of the most formidable teams in international football.
His greatest achievement came at the 2022 FIFA World Cup, where Morocco became the first African nation to reach the semi-finals of the tournament.
Their fourth-place finish captured global attention and raised expectations for the team’s future.
That historic run established Morocco as a rising force in world football, while also increasing pressure on the national side to deliver continental success.
Ouahbi handed senior role
In response to Regragui’s departure, the federation has appointed Mohamed Ouahbi as the new head coach of the senior team.
By appointing Mr. Mohamed Ouahbi and attracting top-tier talent, we are strengthening our standards and raising our expectations daily, within a framework of harmony and integration." Fouzi Lekjaa, President of the Royal Moroccan Football Federation said.
“Morocco 2030 represents a motivating horizon for us: our ambition is to sustainably establish ourselves among the best national teams in the world, and to achieve the expected performance starting this summer and continuing until 2030.”
Ouahbi’s promotion follows his impressive achievements with Morocco’s under-20 side, whom he guided to victory at the U20 World Cup in Chile in October 2025.
"I am honoured to have earned the trust of the Royal Moroccan Football Federation. We will work diligently and humbly, relying on a clear methodology and collective ambition: progressing match by match, establishing high standards in our daily work, enabling the national team to achieve a qualitative leap in upcoming competitions, and living up to the aspirations of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, may God grant him victory, and the expectations of the Moroccan people." Ouahbi said.
Although he has not previously managed a senior national team, the federation believes his success with youth development and his understanding of Moroccan football make him the right figure to lead the next phase of the national project.
World Cup task ahead
Morocco’s immediate focus now shifts to the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will be hosted jointly by the United States, Mexico and Canada.
The Atlas Lions have been drawn in Group C alongside Brazil national football team, Scotland national football team, and Haiti national football team.
Ouahbi is expected to oversee his first matches in charge during upcoming friendlies against Ecuador and Paraguay, fixtures that will offer early insight into his tactical plans and the direction he intends to take the team.
For Morocco, the coming months represent a period of transition but also opportunity.
After rewriting African football history in Qatar four years ago, the Atlas Lions now face the challenge of proving that their rise was not a one-off moment but the foundation of a new era in global football.