It was relaxed and with a smile on his face that Walid Regragui presented himself, accompanied by former Monegasque Eliesse Ben Seghir, this Saturday noon at the penultimate press conference of this CAN 2025. “We dreamed of being there, on January 17, at this conference, it’s a done deal,” he began. It’s every player’s and every coach’s dream. We have one last step to climb against a great coach, great players, a great squad. It is a good thing for African football that the two best teams meet in the final. We’ve been waiting for this for two years and the elimination in Ivory Coast. We will try to make our supporters proud. »
In Senegal the experience, in Morocco the public’s contribution. What will be the most determining factor?
WALID REGRAGUI. For us, it will be the management of emotions, the team that has the pressure is Morocco. It’s normal, we’re at home. We saw against Tanzania (in the round of 16) that being overwhelmed by our emotions could have been paid for in cash. My fear is that we won’t play relaxed. It’s a football match, a final, you have to have fun. A final is 50-50. We will perhaps have 51% with the public, if it is good like in quarter or half, we will go up to 55%.
What physical state are the troops in after extra time against Nigeria?
We have half an hour more in our legs. We know that the psychological criterion is decisive. But if the players are tired, they won’t give up now. And if we see that some are less good, there are some on the bench to take over. We will always be in the style of play that we have been playing for two years. Tomorrow, we will have a great opponent, we will have to be at the same level physically otherwise we will not exist. We are not going to make excuses, we will have to be present physically and mentally.
Is it now or never for Morocco?
It is the objective of an entire people but it is only football. If we think it’s just an opportunity and we’ll never win it again, that’s not the way I see it. My goal is not to win and be happy for 50 years. But to come back again in two years. Whether we win or not, nothing will stop tomorrow. We’ll go back to work to win the next one, whatever happens. Tomorrow, we will try to make history. Whether we cry when we are happy or unhappy, we will leave again.
What state of mind are you in before this final?
Win or lose, that’s life. What concerns me is that my team gives its best and makes the country proud. We want this trophy. We will have to control our emotions well, not think about whether we are going to win or lose. We have everything to win. We are one of the best teams in Africa. It’s good for the future of Africa, we hope to produce good play and score goals. That’s my mind right now.
How do you judge the public’s contribution?
We want to make these people happy. There are no good or bad times. We have been a team of winners for some time. We don’t want to miss this match. I’m going to make a call, I think we’ve gone up to 100 dB, if we can go up to 200… In Morocco, to come and win, it’s very complicated. Nigeria and Cameroon have realized that things are growing in Rabat. Tomorrow, we will need a big team from Senegal to come and beat us at home!
Morocco is the best defense in the competition. What is this due to?
We don’t concede many situations because we are well organized, but also because we have a good state of mind. We try not to leave anything to the opponent because we know that we are not the best. We have talent, of course, but it’s the team that must win, not the talent. But when players with so much talent understand that they have to run together, they have fewer cartridges. If we manage to control the efforts of the Senegalese, the races they put together, we will be pretty good.
How to manage the emotions around this final?
I manage emotions like a coach playing a final. It’s not my first, I hope it’s not my last. I played in a final, I lost it in 2004. I’m 50 years old and I’m only about to relive my second. I tell the players not to follow my example and not wait so long to hope to win one back.
Are you not afraid that the result will influence the fraternal relationship between Morocco and Senegal?
There, we are brothers until kick-off. We will be again later. If God does not grant us victory, we will congratulate our brothers. The Senegalese, I am convinced, will do the same thing if we win.
Do you still fear that refereeing will be at the center of the game?
Whether at the CAN or in Europe, there are arbitration stories. We remain focused on the field. In each match, the eliminated team talks about the refereeing. We need to change this mentality. We are a continent that is moving forward. There are referees who can be of very high level in Africa. There are errors, like everywhere. We lost a World Cup semi-final (against France in 2022) while there was a penalty on Boufal. We didn’t complain. In general, the best always wins.
How do you judge Brahim Diaz’s tournament?
Brahim has changed a lot in terms of mentality. He comes with a lot of desire. He knows he has to make a difference. The most important thing is how he leads the offensive phases. I’m happy because he had the plan to come and play for Morocco and he realized that there were people who could love him here, that he could win titles and play in the World Cup. This is what is happening.
You have one of the best pressings in the competition. Is the recipe enough against Senegal?
It’s very energy-intensive. I have more staff than at the World Cup. I always use the phrase of Rolland Courbis who we think of today: To be a good coach, you have to be convincing. I convinced the guys that they could run for each other, that talent alone is not enough, that it must be revealed as a team.
