Walid Regragui steps down as Atlas Lions head coach

Just over three months before the FIFA World Cup 2026, Walid Regragui announced on Thursday evening that he is stepping down from his position as head coach of Morocco.

The decision was made public during a ceremony broadcast live on a Moroccan TV station.

“I leave my role with loyalty, gratitude and the certainty that I have served my country,” said the Moroccan coach, visibly emotional.

During three and a half years in charge of the Atlas Lions, Walid Regragui—named CAF Coach of the Year 2022 at the CAF Awards - left a deep mark on the history of the Moroccan national team.

Appointed in the summer of 2022, he led Morocco to a remarkable campaign at the FIFA World Cup 2022, guiding the Atlas Lions to a historic semi-final in Qatar and becoming the first African coach to achieve such a feat.

More recently, during the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations 2026 hosted in Morocco, the tactician guided his side to the final after an intense journey that remains etched in the memories of fans.

It was a final memorable chapter before bringing a major era in the history of the Atlas Lions to a close.