Morocco head coach Walid Regragui has been named Coach of the Tournament at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, despite the Atlas Lions’ defeat to Senegal in the final, edging Nigeria’s Super Eagles boss Eric Chelle to the prestigious individual honour, Nigeriasoccernet.com reports.
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) Technical Study Group cited Regragui’s tactical discipline, consistency, and overall team organisation as key reasons for the decision. Morocco was widely praised for their structured approach, defensive solidity, and intelligent game management from the group stage through to the final.
Under Regragui’s guidance, the Atlas Lions produced several convincing performances on their route to the final, eliminating strong contenders and conceding few goals throughout the tournament. Their ability to control games and maintain balance across all departments stood out during the competition.
Chelle, who led Nigeria to an impressive AFCON 2025 campaign that ended with a bronze medal finish, was also highly rated by observers for instilling confidence, attacking fluency, and resilience in the Super Eagles. However, he ultimately finished second in the race for the coaching accolade.
Regragui’s award further cements his reputation as one of Africa’s elite coaches, adding another milestone to his growing managerial résumé, even though Morocco narrowly missed out on lifting the AFCON trophy.