Walid Regragui Joins World's Top Coaches at RFEF Congress in Madrid
The high-profile event brought together over 550 coaches from across the globe and featured around 20 distinguished speakers, including Regragui, alongside representatives from FIFA and UEFA.
Regragui's participation highlights the growing international recognition of Moroccan coaching talent and reflects Morocco's commitment to fostering top-level sports leadership and development.
During a panel discussion on the responsibilities and challenges of coaching, Regragui spoke candidly about the immense expectations that come with leading a national team in a country where football is deeply cherished.
'We carry a great responsibility because the passion for football is immense. The entire country is behind us,' he said, emphasizing the strong emotional connection between the Moroccan national team and its supporters.
As the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) draws near, Regragui finds himself under increasing pressure. Morocco will host the continental tournament, and Regragui has publicly pledged to win the title on home soil.
Despite the high expectations, the coach remains confident in both his leadership and the team's abilities. Reaffirming his dedication during the Madrid Congress, he stated:
'If there's someone better than me, I'll step aside. I'm the first fan of this team. I want to see Hakimi lift the trophy.'
His humble and determined words resonated with fans and players alike, setting the tone for one of the most anticipated chapters in Moroccan football history.
The congress also featured several prominent football figures, including Spain's head coach Luis de la Fuente, former Ecuador manager Gustavo Alfaro, and renowned Uruguayan fitness coach Profe Ortega. Key topics discussed included continuous coaching education, the evolving challenges of technical management, and the growing importance of a human-centered approach in coaching.
According to the RFEF, the congress aims to emphasize the strategic role of coaches and promote education and training as fundamental drivers for the advancement of modern football. Tags: 2025 afconrfefWalid Regragui
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Morocco World
an hour ago
- Morocco World
CAF Denounces Security Breaches During Kenya-Morocco CHAN 2024 Match
Marrakech – The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has expressed serious concerns about security failures at Kasarani Stadium during Kenya's matches in the 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN), particularly following incidents that occurred during the Kenya-Morocco fixture on Sunday. In an official letter addressed to the Local Organizing Committee (LOC) in Kenya, CAF condemned the persistent security breaches observed during matches involving the Kenyan national team. The continental governing body specifically referenced serious incidents that took place during the Kenya-Morocco match played on Sunday. Morocco began their quest for a third CHAN title with a solid 2-0 victory over Angola in the Group A opener at the Nyayo National Stadium in Nairobi on August 3. However, their momentum was halted by the defeat to Kenya a week later. Among the reported incidents were a broken access door, spectators entering without tickets, attendance exceeding the stadium's regulatory capacity of 48,000, and unauthorized entry into areas reserved for media. CAF has referred these security failures to the appropriate authorities for investigation and appropriate measures. The organization has also initiated discussions with the LOC and the Kenyan government to ensure strict compliance with CAF regulations, particularly those related to security protocols. The match, which Kenya won 1-0, took place in a tense atmosphere, raising questions about security management throughout the competition. Kasarani Stadium, where these events occurred, is scheduled to host the tournament final on August 30 in a competition co-organized by Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda. On the sporting front, Morocco suffered its first defeat in the tournament against host nation Kenya. The Atlas Lions now find themselves obligated to win their next two matches to qualify for the second round, starting with their upcoming fixture against Zambia on Thursday. Despite entering the tournament as favorites, coach Tarik Sektioui's team struggled to convert their technical superiority into goals. After a promising start in the first fifteen minutes, Morocco's momentum was disrupted when striker Ayoub Mouloua sustained an injury that forced his substitution. Kenya's Rayan Ogam capitalized on a defensive lapse to score with a powerful, well-placed shot in the 42nd minute, giving the home side the advantage. Kenya played most of the second half with ten men following Christine Erambo's logical expulsion for a bad foul just before halftime. Despite the numerical advantage and substitutions that reinvigorated their attack, Morocco failed to equalize. Saber Bougrine and Youssef Mehri provided fresh energy, but the Atlas Lions lacked precision in the final third. The Moroccan team will need to quickly regroup to avoid an early exit from the competition. Read also: CHAN 2024: Three Nations Unite to Host African Championship Tags: CHAN 2024Confederation of African Football
Morocco World
2 hours ago
- Morocco World
Harakass Quits Wydad, Heads to Saudi Arabia
Wydad AC have confirmed the departure of defender Jamal Harakass to Saudi Pro League club Damac in the current summer transfer window. The Casablanca side brought an end to Harakass's spell at the club after head coach Mohamed Amine Benhachem deemed he was surplus to requirements. The 29-year-old was placed on the club's exit list shortly after Wydad participated in the FIFA Club World Cup. Harakass has agreed terms with Damac and will join the Saudi outfit in what will be his first professional stint in the Kingdom. According to Saudi daily Asharq Al-Awsat , the transfer is worth around 6 million Moroccan dirhams ($600,000). Damac have moved to secure Harakass as a replacement for Algerian centre-back Farouk Chafai, whose contract was not renewed at the end of last season. A former player for Raja Casablanca and Mouloudia Oujda, Harakass has also featured for the Moroccan national team, earning four caps during the qualifiers for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations and scoring once. Tags: DamacJamal HarkassSaudi Arabiawydad
Morocco World
3 hours ago
- Morocco World
Barça vs Villarreal in Miami? La Liga Approves
Villarreal's upcoming La Liga clash with Barcelona could make football history, with both clubs pushing to stage the December fixture in the United States rather than Spain. The Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) has given initial approval and will now seek clearance from UEFA and FIFA. If sanctioned, the match would take place on 20 December 2025 at Miami's Hard Rock Stadium, a venue for the 2026 World Cup. The original date was 21 December at Villarreal's Estadio de la Cerámica, but moving it to Miami would bring it forward by one day. The RFEF confirmed the request came jointly from Villarreal and Barcelona. The next step involves UEFA's consent followed by FIFA's. That final hurdle may be difficult since FIFA's current rules prohibit domestic league games from being played outside their home country. However, the organisation is reviewing the regulation through a special working group. While official games abroad are rare, the Spanish and Italian Super Cups have been staged in countries such as Saudi Arabia in recent years. AC Milan are also exploring the possibility of playing a Serie A match in Perth, Australia, next February because the San Siro will host the Winter Olympics opening ceremony. No European league has yet taken a regular-season match overseas. La Liga has tried before. In 2019, Barcelona were set to face Girona in Miami, but the plan collapsed after opposition from the RFEF and the players' union. Last year, the league hoped to stage a Barcelona vs Atlético Madrid fixture there, but time constraints ended the effort. The Premier League floated a similar idea in 2008, proposing an extra '39th game' abroad, but abandoned it after strong backlash from fans and media. Whether the Miami experiment happens this time depends on FIFA's ruling in the coming months. If approved, Villarreal vs Barcelona could open a new chapter for domestic football or become another failed attempt to take the league beyond its borders. Tags: BarcelonaFIFAla ligaVillareal
