It’s an almost unique situation in world football: a coach undefeated for 17 games, semi-finalist in the last World Cup, finds himself pilloried by his own supporters on the eve of a major tournament. The announcement on Thursday of the list of 26 Atlas Lions for CAN 2025, which will be held on Moroccan soil, acted as a detonator. Instead of the sacred union hoped for, Walid Regragui faces a storm of harsh criticism. Deemed too conservative, accused of favoring his
“praetorian guard” to the detriment of his current form, the technician seems to have lost the totem of immunity won in Qatar. The absence of creative players like Hakim Ziyech or Sofiane Boufal, sacrificed on the altar of group cohesion, goes down badly with a public that demands spectacle and audacity.
The “boring” victory syndrome
This sudden disenchantment finds its source in a cruel paradox: Morocco wins, but Morocco no longer seduces. Narrow victories against modest nations (like the recent 1-0 against Mozambique) are no longer enough to satisfy the appetite born from the epic 2022. Supporters criticize Regragui for a defensive pragmatism that has become sterile against the low African blocks. Where the neighbor is currently crushing its opponents, the Lions are struggling to achieve their domination. This style
“minimalist”, effective in countering the European giants, is seen as a hindrance against teams from the continent. The list unveiled Thursday confirms this trend: lots of hard-working midfielders, loyal defenders (even out of shape or injured like Hakimi), but little offensive madness.
The specter of Djamel Belmadi also hovers over Rabat. The Moroccans fear experiencing the same scenario as their Algerian neighbors: a long series of invincibility which masks deep flaws before a brutal collapse in official competition. Regragui’s stubbornness in ignoring the golden generation of U20 world champions to rely on his veterans (including Romain Saiss) reinforces this feeling of immobility. For part of the public, the coach is not preparing for the future at all. He deals with the past.
A CAN to quit or double
The pressure is all the more suffocating as this CAN is being played at home. In Morocco, we will not forgive another failure after decades of continental scarcity. Regragui knows it: his exceptional balance sheet will mean nothing if he does not lift the trophy on January 18. His communication, sometimes considered arrogant when he recalls his statistics (“If I wanted to be arrogant, I would say that we are on 17 victories in a row)begins to annoy.
The hero of Doha became a man alone facing the excessive expectations of an entire people. If he wins, he will be the misunderstood genius who was right against everyone. If he fails, this “no surprise” list will be the main indictment in his trial. Moroccan football is merciless: even at the top, the fall is never far away.
