Morocco head coach Walid Regragui has thrown down the gauntlet ahead of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), boldly declaring that he will step aside if anyone else can guarantee the Atlas Lions a title triumph on home soil.
Speaking at a press conference following the announcement of his squad for upcoming friendlies against Benin and Tunisia, Regragui called on fans to rally behind the team and trust in the process.
“I hope the Moroccan public will be patient and good-intentioned, just like they were during the World Cup. Support us with confidence, and I promise them the CAN,”
In a defiant statement, the coach said he would gladly move aside if a foreign manager could deliver the trophy.
“If someone offers a guarantee that a foreign coach will help us win AFCON, I will step aside today. I will support him and be grateful.
Whether it’s Guardiola, Ancelotti, or anyone else, I don’t know. But I know I’m capable of giving Moroccans the AFCON title; if we have trust and support.”
Regragui also explained Morocco’s decision to decline a proposed friendly with Sweden, choosing instead to prepare against African opposition.
“We were offered a friendly against Sweden, but we declined. We want to face African teams, not European teams in their stadiums. The objective is clear; gain experience and readiness against the kind of opposition we’ll meet at the tournament.”
Morocco have been drawn in Group A alongside Zambia, Mali, and Comoros, and will be looking to make history when the tournament kicks off from December 21, 2025, to January 18, 2026.
