We Must Lift AFCON Trophy – Regragui

Morocco entered the Africa Cup of Nations as tournament hosts, carrying enormous expectations after establishing themselves as Africa’s most prominent national side in recent years. Their rise to continental dominance followed a historic moment at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, where they became the first African nation to reach the semifinals of the global competition. That achievement reshaped how African football is viewed worldwide and significantly raised expectations back home.

Currently ranked 11th globally, ahead of traditional football power Italy, the Atlas Lions arrived at the tournament with strong momentum. Their last defeat came during the 2024 Africa Cup of Nations, where they were eliminated by South Africa in the round of 16. Since then, Morocco have remained unbeaten, showing consistency and tactical growth. The team is led by African Footballer of the Year Achraf Hakimi, the Paris Saint-Germain right-back whose leadership and experience have been central to Morocco’s campaign.

All of Morocco’s matches have taken place at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat. While the atmosphere was tense during the group stage, with sections of home supporters expressing frustration at times, the team gradually won over the demanding crowd as the competition progressed. Performances improved with each round, rebuilding confidence between players and fans.

A dominant victory against Cameroon in the quarterfinals reinforced Morocco’s title credentials. That was followed by an emotionally draining semifinal clash against Nigeria, which ended in a dramatic penalty shootout win on Wednesday. With qualification for the final secured, nearly 70,000 Moroccan supporters are expected to fill the stadium, all hoping to witness a historic triumph on home soil.

Head coach Walid Regragui believes his team has earned its place in the final through resilience and quality opposition faced along the way. He emphasized that Morocco’s path has not been easy, having navigated matches against strong sides such as Mali, Cameroon, and Nigeria, and now preparing to meet another elite African team in the final.

According to Regragui, recognition alone is not enough. While Morocco are increasingly viewed as a football powerhouse, he insists that lifting trophies is the only way to cement that status permanently. He described the final as a defining moment in the nation’s football history, one that could shape how this generation is remembered.

Despite progress, Regragui remains conscious of Morocco’s modest historical record in the Africa Cup of Nations. The French-born coach was part of the last Moroccan squad to reach this stage, when they fell to host nation Tunisia in the 2004 final. Nearly two decades later, he is determined to go one step further and rewrite that outcome.

Failure to secure the title could have serious consequences for his future. Reports suggest that if Morocco fall short, Regragui may not remain in charge when the World Cup begins in June. Nevertheless, he remains firm in his self-belief and unshaken by public criticism.

He stated that even an early exit would not have altered his confidence in his coaching ability. Past achievements, he stressed, cannot be erased. Rather than seeking approval or praise, his focus remains solely on the collective success of the national team. For him, the most significant achievement is that Morocco have reached the final, with a chance to claim continental glory.