From the Start, My Ambition is the World Cup, Not the Africa Cup of Nations

Walid Regragui, coach of the Moroccan national team, defended his technical choices in the final match of the Africa Cup of Nations, which the hosts lost to Senegal. He emphasized that the debate over management style is natural, but insisted that those who understand football know that finals are not played as much as they are decided by small details.

Regragui explained that losing the title was due to a simple mistake that cost the team dearly, noting that he does not bear responsibility for that decisive moment. He reminded that even great stars in world football have previously missed penalty kicks in crucial matches, considering it an integral part of the nature of the game.

The coach of the “Atlas Lions” spoke about his goals from the beginning of the journey, revealing that the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations was not his biggest ambition, despite his full effort to win it and doing everything in his power to achieve this goal.

Regragui concluded his statements by emphasizing that his main focus is directed towards the bigger challenge, which is the World Cup. He aims to compete for the global title next summer, as part of a long-term project aimed at writing a new historical chapter for Moroccan football.