World Cup 2026: three factors weakening Walid Regragui's future at the helm of the "Atlas Lions"

Three factors undermining Walid Regragui's future as head coach of the "Atlas Lions"

Walid Regragui/@CAF

Walid Regragui, the head coach of the Atlas Lions, is not guaranteed to continue his journey in charge of the Moroccan national team.

According to multiple reliable sources, the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) is expected to make a decision soon regarding the coach who will lead the national team at the upcoming 2026 World Cup.

Below are three reasons that could prompt the FRMF to turn the page on Walid Regragui.

The AFCON failure

Morocco’s football governing body did not hesitate to invest heavily to help the national team win the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON 2025). Yet, the former Wydad Athletic Club (WAC) manager was unable to fulfill the dream of an entire nation, which has been longing to break the AFCON curse that has persisted since the 1976 edition of the tournament.

Tarik Sektioui, an ideal profile!

The coach of the national A’ team presents a very promising profile, having succeeded in every challenge over recent years. In addition to winning bronze at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, Tarik Sektioui led the A’ team to victory in the African Nations Championship (CHAN) and also clinched the FIFA Arab Cup.

Poor tactical and technical management

Walid Regragui was not flawless in his tactical and technical decisions during the last edition of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). According to several analysts, he could have done better, both in terms of gameplay quality and tactical planning.