Morocco’s national team coach, Walid Regragui, is facing significant backlash from netizens following his intervention in Morocco’s semifinal match against Spain on Monday.
A video of Regragui giving instructions to players on the pitch has gone viral, with social media users saying the coach “had no business” in managing the players given that the official coach of Morocco’s U-23 team is Tarik Sektioui.
“What right does Walid Regragui have to go into the locker room at halftime to guide the players and give them the game plan? This shows a lack of respect for Coach Tarek Sektiou,” one X user wrote.
⛔️ بأي صفة ينزل وليد الركراكي بين الشوطين لمستودع الملابس لتوجيه اللاعبين و إعطائهم خطة اللعب، هذا فيه قلة احترام للمدرب طارق السكتيوي pic.twitter.com/twU15URZVG
— ⛔️ محمد واموسي (@ouamoussi) August 5, 2024
Attached to the post is a picture of Walid Regragui talking to Moroccan players during the halftime of the Olympic semifinal match against Spain.
Netizens went as far as to blame the coach for Morocco’s loss against Spain. “This is all because of Walid Regraui,” one post read.
Tout ça c’est à cause de Walid Regragui
— (@MarshallFCB) August 5, 2024
“It’s Mr. Walid Regragui’s fault. Before this match, we were provocative and aggressive. He decided to stick his nose in, and we played defensively often, leading to a defeat,” another X user wrote.
C’est la faute de Monsieur Walid Regragui,avant ce match on était provocateur et agressif.
Il a décidé d’y fourrer son nez on a jouer en bloc bas souvent et défaite. https://t.co/LIKHvtzCi7— Garrincha (@mrowen212) August 5, 2024
The Moroccan team lost to Spain 2-1 in the semifinals of the Olympic Games following a stellar run.
While some appreciated Regraui’s dedication to Moroccan football, others saw his intervention as an attempt to take credit for the team’s outstanding performance during the tournament.
Despite losing to Spain, the team garnered widespread acclaim for their impressive Olympic streak. The Atlas Lions qualified for the quarter-final on top of their group, and scored a commanding 4-0 victory against the US.
The team’s striker Soufiane Rahimi entered history, becoming the only football player to ever score five goals in four games.