Morocco’s national football team coach, Walid Regragui, is facing significant public backlash after he intervened mid-game in Morocco’s U-23 semifinal match against Spain on Monday.
A video of Regragui giving instructions to the younger 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?,” one X user tweeted. “This shows a lack of respect for Coach Tarek Sektiou.”
⛔️ 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 halftime in the Olympic semifinal match against Spain.
Some went so 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 only played defensively, leading to a defeat,” another X user tweeted.
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 Regragui’s dedication to Moroccan football, others saw his interference 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 its impressive Olympic streak. The Atlas Lions qualified for the quarter-final at the top of their group, and scored a commanding 4-0 victory against the US.
The team’s striker Soufiane Rahimi made history, becoming the only football player to ever score five goals in four games.