Rabat – Walid Regragui, head coach of Morocco’s national football team, has reaffirmed Yassine Bounou as his number-one goalkeeper despite the challenges the player has faced recently with Al Hilal.
Speaking at a press conference today, Regragui acknowledged that Bounou has conceded many goals lately but expressed his trust in the experienced goalkeeper.
“Bounou plays for a big club and competes in the AFC Champions League. He remains my first-choice goalkeeper,” Regragui said.
The coach also commended goalkeeper Munir Mohamedi, who has been performing well with RS Berkane. He recalled that both Bounou and Mohamedi have been key players for Morocco for the past seven years. “What matters is that they respect the national team and my choices,” he added.
Both goalkeepers have played a key role in the Atlas Lions’ historic performance at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
Regragui made it clear that Bounou is his primary goalkeeper but assured that if he is unavailable, Mohamedi is always ready to step in. This reminds us of Morocco’s World Cup game against Belgium when Bounou was forced to withdraw just before kickoff due to illness, and Mohamedi stepped up with a solid performance and helped Morocco secure a 2-0 victory.
The Moroccan coach said it is important to prepare a successor for the two players while expressing hope that they could continue playing until they turn 40.
Regragui has called up Bounou, Mohamedi, and Wydad AC’s Mehdi Benabid for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Niger and Tanzania on March 21 and 25. These matches are part of Morocco’s journey toward securing a spot in the 2026 World Cup.
