Walid Regragui, the head coach of Morocco’s national football team, reflects on his journey from a historic fourth-place finish at the 2022 FIFA World Cup to the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). Regragui, who played for Morocco from 2001 to 2009, now aims to lead the team to its first AFCON title in 48 years.

In a recent interview, Regragui discusses his transition from playing to coaching, emphasizing the unparalleled joy of being a young professional footballer representing one’s country. He reveals that returning to support the national team was not a decision he made but a natural evolution of his career, accelerated by the federation’s decision to change coaches.

Accepting the coaching role just three months before the World Cup, Regragui acknowledges the challenges and describes himself as a “crazy coach” for taking on such a task. Despite skepticism, he instilled ambition in the players, setting the goal of winning the World Cup. Discussing the presence of homegrown coaches during the World Cup in Qatar, Regragui notes the increasing recognition of quality coaching from the African continent.

Looking ahead to AFCON, Regragui expresses the team’s aspirations, with a photograph of the 1976 AFCON-winning team serving as daily inspiration. He aims to create a new photo of the current team as winners. Regragui, named Africa’s “Coach of the Year” at the CAF awards, downplays individual honors, emphasizing his focus on the team’s success and the positive impact on Moroccan football.