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Rabat – Walid Regragui, the head coach of Morocco’s national football team, addressed his involvement with the national Olympic team and its head coach, Tarik Sektioui, during the 2024 Paris Games.
During a press conference on Thursday, Regragui expressed frustration over the controversy surrounding his presence with the Atlas Lions during the Olympics. The coach was seen entering the locker room at halftime during Morocco’s game against Spain to provide tactical advice. The move has been criticized by some fans and commentators who felt it undermined the authority of Sektioui.
The coach revealed today that he personally selected Sektioui to lead the Olympic team instead of Issame Charaï. After the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, the president of the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) Fouzi Lekjaa tasked Regragui with overseeing the Olympic team, he said.
The primary objectives were to win the U-23 Africa Cup of Nations, which was hosted in Morocco, and to secure qualification for the Paris Olympics, with hopes of winning a medal, Regragui noted.
Reflecting on the team’s journey, Regragui highlighted that during a match against Brazil in March 2023, seven Olympic players were included in the senior squad. However, by June, these players were deliberately kept with the Olympic team under the guidance of Issame Charaï, who was the coach at that time.
Regragui explained that he collaborated closely with Sektioui to prepare the Olympic squad and worked tirelessly to convince clubs to release their professional players for the tournament. These collaborative efforts, he noted, were instrumental in securing the bronze medal at the Olympics, a result he considers highly significant despite the criticism he faced.
He praised Sektioui for his accomplishments and emphasized that their relationship remains strong. Regragui also mentioned that the senior team’s staff was made available to support the Olympic squad and expressed pride in the overall achievement.
