The Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) is at a crossroads, embroiled in an internal debate over the future of national team head coach Walid Regragui.
While one faction is pushing for his immediate dismissal ahead of the 2026 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), another insists he should remain in charge until after the continental tournament.
Beyond the two camps’ tussle on whether Regragui should be the one to lead the Moroccan team at the upcoming AFCON on home turf, there appears to be a definitive consensus on the fact that his tenure with the Atlas Lions will soon come to an end.
Reliable sources within Moroccan football circles have confirmed that regardless of internal disagreements, the FRMF has already decided to part ways with Regragui in the near future. The question is when or how soon the FRMF leadership will pull the trigger.
Jose Riveiro is the front-runner for the job
Despite leading Morocco to a historic World Cup semi-final in 2022, Regragui is largely believed to have punched below his team’s weight at the most recent AFCON. As speculation abounds over the timing of his departure, one name that has surfaced prominently in the ongoing replacement discussions is South African club Orlando Pirates’ head coach Jose Riveiro.
According to converging reports from South African sources, the Moroccan FRMF has made an inquiry about the Spanish tactician as a potential successor.
Riveiro, whose contract with Orlando Pirates expires at the end of the current season, has been attracting interest from both clubs and national teams, including Finland and Sweden.
An insider close to the negotiations has been quoted as revealing that Morocco’s interest is particularly appealing to Riveiro due to the country’s proximity to Spain, something that would allow him easier access to his home country while managing a top national team.
Unlike club football, international coaching offers more flexible scheduling. Many observers believe this could be an enticing prospect for the Spaniard.
Other contenders
Sources close to the ongoing search for a replacement have also told Morocco World News that PSG coach Luis Enrique is another name in the race to replace Regragui.
The Spaniard has long been on Morocco’s radar. But with his in-form PSG side doing wonders in the French league and UEFA Champions League, it is highly unlikely that Enrique will leave the French capital to take charge of the Atlas Lions.
there are a number of Moroccan names among the high-profile contenders for Regragui’s job.
These include Emirati club Al Jazira coach Hussein Ammouta and Tarik Sektioui, a former Morocco international and current Morocco U-23 coach. Sektioui has done an impressive job with the youth team both at the African level and at last summer’s Olympic Games.
His performances at the Olympics in particular have stuck in the minds of many Moroccans, leading to speculation that he could be in line for the top Moroccan job.
To delay or not to delay
Meanwhile, FRMF sources indicate that the delay in announcing Regragui’s departure stems from strategic considerations.
The pro-Regragui camp believes that replacing the coach so close to a major tournament could disrupt the team’s stability.
For those advocating for an immediate leadership change ahead of a major tournament, bringing in a new coach at this particular time might turn out to be exactly the tactical overhaul Morocco needs to finally win at home the continental glory that has eluded generations of great Moroccan players for nearly five decades.
Whether Regragui departs before or after AFCON, the choice of the next head coach will be pivotal as Morocco aims to build on its 2022 World Cup successes and maintain its status as a football powerhouse.
