Former Morocco head coach Walid Regragui has boldly declared himself an “African champion” while reflecting on the Atlas Lions’ controversial campaign at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
Regragui insisted Morocco were among the standout teams at the tournament and believed they had done enough to lift the trophy.
“For us, we had a great tournament, we were one of the best teams, if not the best, and we played some great matches,” Regragui said.
The former Atlas Lions boss also addressed the decisive moments of the final, noting that Morocco had a major opportunity to secure victory after being awarded a late penalty.
“We could have won, just as our opponent could have. For me, we reached the 90th minute and were awarded a penalty; if Brahim Diaz had scored it, we would have been crowned champions,” he said.
Regragui maintained that, from his perspective as coach, everything possible had been done to secure the continental title.
“For me, as coach, we did everything to win the title. For me, I am an African champion, whether people like it or not,” he declared.
The former Morocco coach also revealed the message he delivered to Brahim Diaz following the midfielder’s missed penalty, choosing encouragement rather than criticism.
“I didn’t tell him anything. I simply told him once: ‘My son, what happened will teach you many things and make you stronger as a player. You must learn from every experience,’” Regragui explained.
Regragui’s comments come as uncertainty continues over the final’s outcome, with the coach saying that the football world will have to await the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) decision.
His remarks underline his belief that Morocco’s overall performance deserved recognition, while his defence of Diaz highlights the former coach’s view that a missed penalty should be treated as a learning experience rather than a defining moment in a player’s career.
