3 unresolved issues facing Morocco’s national team
Regragui/@CAF
Morocco’s national team is looking to achieve remarkable results in their highly anticipated appearance at the World Cup, which will be held next summer in North America.
The tournament draw has placed the Atlas Lions in Group C alongside Brazil, Haiti, and Scotland.
With the Africa Cup of Nations 2025 now behind them, the Moroccan Football Federation is preparing to settle three key files ahead of the upcoming World Cup.
Regragui or Sektioui?
The Moroccan football authorities have yet to resolve the issue of who will lead the national team at the 2026 World Cup finals.
One school of thought is pushing for Walid Regragui to remain as head coach, in the spirit of continuity and stability, given his deep understanding of the squad he has managed since 2022.
On the other hand, there is a growing call for reserve team coach Tarik Sektioui, who has delivered outstanding results in recent months, securing both the African Nations Championship and the Arab Cup.
Dual-nationality dilemmas
The Moroccan Football Federation is working hard to persuade some promising talents to represent the Atlas Lions on the international stage.
One of the standout targets is Lille midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi, whose stock has risen sharply this season thanks to his impressive performances in the French league.
Also in Morocco’s sights is Ajax Amsterdam winger Ryan Bonida, who could provide valuable cover for star man Brahim Diaz.
Pre-World Cup friendlies
The Moroccan Football Federation is expected to finalize the list of friendly matches the Atlas Lions will contest as part of their preparations for the 2026 World Cup.
The North African side will play a series of warm-up games during the upcoming international breaks in March and June.
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