Walid Regragui says the Africa Cup of Nations final against Senegal was the moment he decided to leave his position as Morocco manager, despite believing the eventual outcome confirmed that he had completed his mission.
Regragui officially stepped down on 5 March after three and a half years in charge of the Lions of the Atlas. However, the 50-year-old had made up his mind six weeks earlier, on the night Morocco lost the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final to Senegal in Rabat.
Senegal won 1-0 after extra time on 18 January, in a match marked by unusual and highly controversial circumstances. Regragui discussed his decision during an appearance on the Magharib podcast for the Atheer media outlet.
The former Wydad Casablanca manager left with what he described as a sense of duty fulfilled. He continues to insist that he is an African champion, “whether people like it or not”.
Regragui believes the actions of Senegal manager Pape Thiaw altered the course of a final which appeared to be heading Morocco’s way. He criticised Thiaw for instructing his players to leave the pitch after a penalty was awarded to the hosts during stoppage time.
That temporary withdrawal caused a lengthy interruption and intensified an already heated atmosphere inside the stadium. Regragui feels those events may have affected Brahim Diaz, who failed to convert the decisive opportunity in the 90th minute plus 24.
The former Morocco manager also regards the decision by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) Appeal Jury, two months later, to award the title to Morocco as a correction of what happened on the night.
Regragui had previously considered resigning in 2024, following Morocco’s elimination in the last 16 of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in Cote d’Ivoire.
“I had already handed in my resignation after the elimination,” he said.
Despite that decision, Fouzi Lekjaa, president of the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF), persuaded him to remain in the role.
“He told me: ‘You haven’t finished your work.’ (...) And I thank him for that. He was right,” Regragui said.
His second spell in charge continued through the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final, where Morocco initially lost to Senegal before the later CAF ruling changed the official outcome.
Regragui’s departure on 5 March therefore came after a period in which he felt he had both endured difficult moments and delivered on his responsibilities with the national team. The final in Rabat, rather than the formal announcement of his resignation, was the point at which he had decided his time with Morocco was coming to an end.