Morocco is launched at full steam in this World Cup in Qatar.
And if its driver, coach Walid Regragui, does not yet know the final destination of his team, he knows that it is on the right track.
"We try to be a locomotive in Africa", explained Walid Regragui after the victory in the round of 16 against Spain, Tuesday December 6th.
"The continent is moving forward, Morocco has made a lot of effort. I arrived in 2013, and since then I have seen the stadiums evolve, the federation has made enormous efforts, His Majesty has put in a lot of resources. (. ..) There are no surprises. Now we must not fall asleep, we must continue".
This desire has driven him since his appointment as coach in early September, less than three months before the start of the World Cup, in place of Vahid Halilhodzic.
"I graduated in France, but it was my country of origin that gave me my chance. We had to give back to the Federation what they offered me, the confidence they gave me given to be able to grow in Morocco as a coach," explained Regragui.
For the first time in history, the five African teams qualified for the World Cup in Qatar had a "local" on their bench: Rigobert Song for Cameroon, Jalel Kadri for Tunisia, Aliou Cissé for Senegal, Otto Addo for Ghana and finally Walid Regragui for Morocco.
The era of "white wizards" now seems to be over in Africa.
A brilliant double with Wydad Casablanca
The name of Walid Regragui was circulating even before the dismissal of Vahid Halilhodzic, which occurred on August 11.
The Moroccan Federation evoked "divergent points of view (...) about the appropriate preparation of the Atlas Lions" for the World Cup.
Born in Corbeil-Essonnes, near Paris, Walid Regragui had a long playing career before becoming a coach.
He tasted the professional world quite late, discovering the National at the age of 23 at the Racing Club de France.
This training right side then joined Toulouse with which he moved up to Ligue 1. He then went on to experience in France (Ajaccio, Dijon, Grenoble), supplemented by a freelance in Spain at Racing Santander.
Walid Regragui, wearing the AC Ajaccio jersey, in the duel with Juninho (OL) in 2003. © Philippe Merle, AFP
His performances earned him a call to the Atlas Lions in 2001. With Morocco, he notably played in the CAN-2004 final against Tunisia and won the title of best defender in the competition.
When he retired from international football in 2009, he can boast of having played 45 matches with the Moroccans.
Above all, he earned a reputation as a facilitator in the group, capable of making the link between the older generation, often trained in Morocco, and the young dual nationals.
Walid Regragui stopped his playing career in 2011. The following year, he joined the bench of the Moroccan selection with an assistant position (2012-2013).
He then won trophies in each of the clubs where he played: a Throne Cup (2015) and a Moroccan championship (2016) with FUS Rabat, a Qatar championship with Al-Duhail (2020).
During the past year, he signed a brilliant double with Wydad Casablanca: African Champions League and Moroccan championship.
A solid defensive strategy
His priority project with the Atlas Lions was to bring back into the selection some heavy players, cold with his predecessor, starting with striker Hakim Ziyech.
"We managed to create a family, we feel that we have a people behind us. If you had told me before starting that we would have played Croatia, Belgium and Spain without losing a match, I will have signed," explained Regragui.
He also came back after the victory against Spain on Morocco's defensive strategy.
"We agreed not to have possession. Not out of fear, but we have the humility to say that we are not yet France, Germany or England to compete with them in terms of possession" , explained Regragui.
Morocco bet on their defense to save the score and bet on their goalkeeper Yassine Bounou for the final test of penalties.
A paid choice.
"It's a tactical masterpiece, with a defensive line and a Moroccan midfielder that flowed in perfect synchrony, from left to right", noted after the meeting Cédric Ferreira, special correspondent for France 24.
"Walid Regragui replaced Vahid Hallilodzic, who is a rather defensive coach, at short notice. He did not have time to change the philosophy of play. He adapts and he makes concrete in defense", analyzes Xavier Barret, consultant for France 24 during this world.
A solid construction that allowed Morocco to qualify, for the first time in its history, among the last 8 teams of this competition.
The next shock against Portugal to follow live Saturday, December 12 on france24.com from 4 p.m. (Paris time).
With AFP
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