Rabat – Moroccan head coach Walid Regragui is facing significant scrutiny from Moroccan fans in his first media appearance following the Atlas Lions’ early elimination from the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).

Regragui was a guest on Moroccan sports channel Arryadia on Friday evening to discuss various topics related to the national team, most notably their elimination from AFCON’s Round of 16.

During the program, he expressed his disappointment with the team’s performance at the tournament, for which he took full accountability. In addition, he pledged to address the team’s shortcomings and come back stronger in future competitions.

However, Moroccan football fans, who were eager for answers, found the coach’s explanations lacking in substance.

Many Moroccans took to social media to express frustration over his remarks, arguing that he failed to address key issues and concerns surrounding the team’s performance.

Some criticized the fact that the coach appeared on Arryadia and received questions from one journalist only, calling for a unified press conference involving multiple media outlets to provide a more comprehensive examination of the team’s shortcomings and potential solutions. 

Moroccan journalist Jamal Astaifi said on Facebook: “Walid Regragui is in a state of denial of reality, and this is the biggest problem a national team or a coach could face.”

Despite Regragui repeatedly stressing that he takes full responsibility for the team’s early exit, Astaifi accused the coach of deflecting responsibility.

“Even in his analysis of the reasons for the early elimination of the national team, he returned to talk about the series of coaches who didn’t win the continental title with Morocco. In other words, Regragui seems to suggest that all reasons for the early exit are possible, except for him,” the journalist added.

Expectations were high for the Moroccan national team to produce a strong performance at the 2023 AFCON, which they entered as one of the favorites to clinch the title.

Fans were extremely disappointed over Morocco’s elimination at the hands of South Africa 2-0, as many were hoping for a performance that matched the Atlas Lions’ historic journey at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

Worried fans continue to demand a thorough assessment of technical issues that led to the team’s underperformance, especially as Morocco is set to host the 2025 AFCON.