Moroccan public opinion attacks Walid Regragui

Walid Regragui, the coach of the first Moroccan national football team, has been the subject of a campaign of widespread criticism following the national team’s defeat at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

The national Olympic team was beaten by Spain on Monday evening, August 5, 2024, by two goals to one, in the Olympic semi-final, so much so that the Moroccans’ hopes of winning the gold medal evaporated.

The Moroccan public held the coach and assistant of the first team, Rachid Ben Mahmoud, responsible for the defeat of the Olympic team against Spain.

Walid Regragui had been in the Olympic team’s training since the start of the tournament, and questions continued to haunt him regarding his eligibility to attend the Moroccan Olympic team’s training and residency, in the presence of Tariq Sektioui and his assistant crew.

The defeat against Spain was the last straw, after a photo of Walid Regragui was leaked between half-time of the match between Morocco and Spain, giving instructions to the Olympic team players.

A part of the Moroccan fans considered Regragui’s actions as irresponsible and included many insults towards the specialty of the coach of the Olympic national team, Tariq Sektioui, while a small group considered that Regragui is the head of the Moroccan national teams committee and responsible for it, and there is nothing to complain about his presence with the players of the Moroccan national team under 23, including 9 of them playing under his direction in the first team.