Morocco AFCON: Performance & Fan Discontent

With three wins and a draw, Morocco qualified for the quarter-finals of the African Cup of Nations in their own country, tonight against Cameroon. But there was quite a bit of grumbling in the stands throughout the tournament.

In the opening match against the Comoros, the Morocco players left the field when the score was still 0-0 at halftime to a loud whistle concert. Former international Nordin Amrabat, present in Morocco as an analyst, then addressed Moroccan football followers in Arabic via social media. Or maybe it could be a little more positive and constructive.

But although there was plenty of cheering and singing in the subsequent matches, the fans remained critical. National coach Walid Regragui, who guided Morocco to the semi-finals of the World Cup in Qatar, is under a magnifying glass.

“People do not agree with his selection policy and the way he plays,” explains Karim El Ahmadi, who has played at the African Cups with Morocco. “It is often about the absence of Hakim Ziyech (just fit again and playing for Wydad Casablanca, ed.) and Sofiane Boufal, who excelled on the flanks at the World Cup.”

“And Regragui is simply a trainer who plays football from a lower defensive block,” El Ahmadi continues. “Playing defensively is easier than playing offensively and you also have to get results.”

Regragui’s tactic gave Morocco the best performance in the country’s history, fourth place at the World Cup. In Qatar they had dropped considerably against top countries such as Spain and Portugal, only to strike mercilessly during the transition.

But in the longer term, results in Morocco alone are not enough, as Nasser El Khayati, the former Premier League player who impressed with his graceful play, especially at ADO Den Haag, knows.

“95 percent of Moroccan footballers worldwide are technical players,” El Khayati said. “People have gotten used to that, that beautiful technical game has become the norm.”

And despite the presence of graceful footballers such as Ismael Saibari, Azzedine Ounahi and Brahim Diaz, that is not yet the case in this Africa Cup.

“It’s not as bad as some people think,” says El Ahmadi. “But you do miss someone who can give a decisive through ball. Just like Ziyech did before when he played for Morocco. Saibari relies on his depth and Diaz relies more on his actions and dribbles. You just miss those through balls.”

El Khayati – himself a player with technique and creativity in his blood – does not think Regragui should change his tactics. “I love beautiful football, but sometimes it just has to be done in a different way,” he says.

“This is tournament football and it is high time that Morocco wins a tournament. From the stands with a drink in your hand it all seems very easy, playing more attacking football. But as a player you know: take one too many risks and you are out of the tournament. And then the criticism is enormous.”

The expectations surrounding the Moroccan team have only increased after the 2022 World Cup success. Morocco has developed rapidly as a football country in recent years.

Youth teams dominated and won international youth tournaments, the B team recently won the Arab Cup and Morocco was also great at the Games in Paris. And the growth of Moroccan top talent who grew up in European countries remained high.

Yet Regragui largely stuck to the players with whom he made waves at the World Cup. For example, the national coach came under a lot of criticism when Othmane Maamma was not selected. “He should have been given a chance,” says El Khayati. “But other than that, Regragui’s selection policy is quite logical in my opinion. I think we really have to cherish him a little more and accept his tactics, regardless of the fact that things can be improved.”

El Ahmadi is in about the same position. Still, the coming days will be crucial for Regragui’s support. “As for his future, it really depends on what happens now. He really has credit, but the previous Africa Cup was not a success either. If they do not reach the final, the pressure will be great.”