Nearly five months after leaving the Moroccan national team, Walid Regragui reflected on his coaching journey and analyzed the factors that prevented the Atlas Lions from reaching the 2022 World Cup final. In a detailed statement, he highlighted physical fatigue and key injuries as major obstacles during the tournament in Qatar.
Regragui, who led Morocco to a historic semifinal appearance—the first for an African nation—noted that the team's deep run, including a victory over Portugal and a penalty shootout win against Spain, took a toll. He stated that the squad's limited depth and accumulated exhaustion in extra-time matches were critical.
The coach also pointed to specific moments, such as the absence of key defender Romain Saïss due to injury in the semifinal against France, as decisive. Morocco lost 2-0 to France, ending their remarkable campaign. Regragui's tenure ended in August 2026 after a disappointing Africa Cup of Nations performance.
