Walid Regragui, the coach of Morocco’s national football team, held a press conference on Thursday, September 5, 2024, ahead of the team’s upcoming matches against Gabon and Lesotho in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.
Walid Regragui, the coach of Morocco’s national football team, said Thursday in a pre-match press conference that the games against Gabon and Lesotho would be challenging. «We want to maintain competitiveness and see the level of competing teams», he stated. The coach noted that the team had previously struggled with efficiency, missing many goal opportunities.
Regarding player fitness, Regragui mentioned that players were not in their best physical condition in June, which led to focusing solely on winning to top their qualification group. He expressed hope that the team would perform well in the upcoming matches.
The coach also addressed recent transfer market activities. He expressed satisfaction that several players had resolved their club situations during the summer transfer window. Regragui clarified that he does not interfere with players’ future with their clubs, stating, «My main focus is the player’s level with the national team».
Responding to rumors about his influence on players’ decisions to join Gulf leagues, Regragui emphasized that the national team door remains open to players in Gulf leagues. «If a player decides to move to the Gulf, the door remains open to him», he said.
While expressing a desire to see Moroccan players in top European leagues and participating in the UEFA Champions League, Regragui acknowledged that clubs like Fenerbahçe, Galatasaray, and Panathinaikos are also significant.
The coach discussed the progress of some players, including Amir Richardson and Brahim Diaz, noting their potential for further improvement with more matches. He also mentioned the possibility of experimenting with player positions, such as trying Achraf Hakimi as a left-back, though he affirmed Hakimi’s quality as a right-back.
The Moroccan national team is set to face Gabon on Friday, September 6, at the Grand Stadium in Agadir at 8:00 PM local time, followed by a match against Lesotho on Monday at Adrar Stadium. These matches are part of the qualifiers for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, which Morocco is scheduled to host in December 2025.
