The Moroccan Football Federation announced the appointment of Walid Rekraki to lead the first national team, to succeed Wahid Khalilovic, today, Wednesday, with a contract that extends until the 2026 World Cup.
The appointment of Rekraki (former Wydad Casablanca coach) was expected after speculation about his imminent appointment since Khalilovic's dismissal less than 3 weeks ago.
The fans of the "Atlas Lions" hope that the new coach will solve the outstanding problems that arose between the former coach and some of the stars of the Moroccan national team, led by Chelsea playmaker Hakim Ziyech, who Khalilovich excluded from the national team, accusing him of behaving in an "unprofessional" manner while he was in the training camps.
It is expected that Ziyech's return to the national team will be imminent after Regragui, who seeks to reunite the stars of Morocco to achieve the best result in Monial Qatar.
Moroccan Football Federation President Faouzi Lekjaa said that Regraki will lead the national team in the World Cup in Qatar, which begins next November.
He added - in a press conference - that the Keraki contract includes a clause that requires reaching the semi-finals of the 2024 African Nations Cup in Ivory Coast at a minimum.
Lekjaa assured that he will provide all confidence, support and facilities to the new coach, who was a former member of the Moroccan squad when he reached the final of the 2004 African Nations Cup.
"I was not fortunate as a player, after I was close to qualifying for the World Cup on two occasions... and I had the opportunity to compensate as a coach," Rekraki said.
"We will fight to provide the best and make the Moroccan public happy, and I will give my life to achieve the goals," he added.
Regragui led Wydad to win the double of the local league and the African Champions League last season, and he won the Qatari league title with Al Duhail in 2020, and with Al-Fath Rabat, he won the league for the only time in 2016 along with crowning the Throne Cup.
Regragui, who was a player in the "Atlas Lions" squad when he reached the 2004 Nations Cup final, worked as an assistant coach for the Moroccan national team in 2012 and 2013 with Rachid Taoussi.
The first test will be against Regragui, 46, with Morocco, when he plays two friendlies in Spain against Chile and Paraguay on September 23 and 27.
Morocco will play in Group F of the World Cup along with Belgium, Croatia and Canada.