Rabat – The Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) has denied hiring former Wydad club coach Walid Regragui to replace Vahid Halilhodzic, the current head coach of Morocco’s national football team.
The FRMF issued a communique late on Saturday night to deny rumors that it had sacked Halilhodzic.
News on the imminent departure of the Franco-Bosnian coach of the Moroccan national football team has been making the rounds in recent weeks, with the large majority of Moroccan football fans holding Halilhodzic responsible for Morocco’s disappointing early exit from the latest Africa Cup of Nations.
Others have particularly taken issue with the Franco-Bosnian manager for his refusal to call up some of the Moroccan team’s key football players, including Hakim Ziyech.
After being sidelined by the coach for the Africa Cup of Nations, Ziyech sent shockwaves through the Moroccan football world when he said recently that he would no longer play for Morocco’s national team as long as Halilhdizc remains coach.
Last week, however, FRMF President Fouzi Lekjaa reassured Moroccans that Ziyech will be part of the national team at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
While Lekjaa gave no clear indication as to whether Halilhodzic will not be Morocco’s coach at the World Cup, rumors of the Franco-Bosnian’s potential departure further intensified this week following Walid Regragui’s resignation from his post as coach of Wydad.
“I can’t do better with the team in the future. The players, the management and the fans have put in great confidence and have given me the opportunity to win significant titles. I owe it to all the team members for the great support I have received during my stay here,” Regragui said upon resigning.
With Moroccan fans actively and energetically pushing for the FRMF to appoint a “son of the country” as coach of the Moroccan national team, it remains to be seen whether the federation will grant fans’ wishes before the kickoff date of the World Cup.
