Three months before the World Cup on the American continent, Mohamed Ouahbi was named Thursday the new national coach of the Moroccan football team. He replaces Walid Regragui, who had been rumored to be leaving for weeks.

Published on: 03/05/2026 - 11:42 p.m. Modified on: 03/06/2026 - 07:52

The Royal Moroccan Football Federation announced on Thursday evening March 5 that it had chosen Mohamed Ouahbi as the new national coach to replace Walid Regragui – and this, just three months before the 2026 World Cup.

“Thank you Walid (...). I wish you from the bottom of my heart even more success,” declared the president of the Royal Moroccan Football Federation, Fouzi Lekjaa, during a tribute ceremony broadcast live on television.

Walid Regragui, 50, who had been rumored to be leaving for weeks, declared for his part that he was leaving office "with loyalty, gratitude and the certainty of having served (his) country."

In office since 2022, the former coach said he took the time to “analyze” the situation and came to the conclusion that “the team needed a new lease of life before the World Cup”. “This decision is not a renunciation,” he insisted. “I have always had the goal of giving the best of myself with honesty and total commitment. The work accomplished together has allowed us to reach historic levels.”

Mohamed Ouahbi does not promise a “great revolution”

Under his leadership, Morocco became the first African nation to reach the semi-finals of a World Cup, in December 2022 in Qatar. He also led the Atlas Lions to the final of the African Cup of Nations organized on Moroccan territory and which ended with a bitter taste, with the defeat against Senegal (1-0 ap) at the end of a meeting that was long interrupted after a penalty awarded to the host country at the end of added time in the second half, causing the Senegalese players to temporarily leave the locker room and serious incidents in the stands.

His replacement, Mohamed Ouahbi, 49, won the U20 World Cup at the head of Morocco in October 2025 in Chile. He thanked his predecessor and said he was “aware of the expectations, very honored”.

“I am committed to working with determination, humility and patriotism,” he declared after the announcement of his appointment. Asked by the press about his objectives, he replied that he would carry out an “in-depth analysis”. “But I don’t think there will be a big revolution,” he added.

Morocco will make its World Cup debut on June 13 against Brazil in the clash of Group C, which also includes Scotland and Haiti.

With AFP

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