Morocco national team coach Walid Regragui has made a huge impact at the ongoing 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.
Regragui was appointed four months before the World Cup following a fallout between the Moroccan FA and former coach Vahid Halilhodzic.
In the eight matches, Regragui has been in charge of, the Atlas Lions have only tasted defeat once. The loss came in their most recent game against France [2-0] in the World Cup semis.
However, Morocco had a historic run at the World Cup as they drew 0-0 draw against the 2018 finalists Croatia, registered a 2-0 win against Belgium and beat Canada 2-1 in the group stages.
On top of that, the 47-year-old Regragui masterminded the win against former World champions Spain in the last 16, and the victory over Cristiano Ronaldo led Portugal to the last eight of the global showpiece.
In the process, Regragui becomes the first African coach to take a nation to a World Cup quarterfinal. And under his guidance, Morocco became the first African country to reach the semifinal stage of a World Cup.
WALID REGRAGUI INSPIRES LOCAL COACHES
One of South Africa’s up-and-coming coaches Mpho Maleka, says Regragui’s success should serve as a lesson for African federations to trust their own coaches.
“I am happy that Regragui, who is coaching Morocco, is a local. He is still young [47] and has been given the opportunity by the national association” Maleka shared his views with FARPost.
“Before that, he was given a chance at club level and supported. So obviously the players will also have confidence in him because he understands their culture and tradition.
“That’s why everything is falling into place for them. So, it’s not surprising to see one of our own doing so well. It’s also a motivation to us that we must keep working and grinding.
“Our leaders [SAFA and PSL teams] must give the locals an opportunity. If a coach has the ability and talent, why not? Please give them the support and platform. But I’m happy for Morocco,” added Maleka.
Regragui is a former Moroccan international with over 40 caps under his belt. At club level, he played for teams such as Toulouse and Racing Santander.
And after his retirement, Regragui worked his way up the coaching ranks and served as Morocco’s assistant before having head coaching stints at Rabat, Al-Duhail and Wydad AC, where he clinched the CAF Champions League title.
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