Morocco's head coach Walid Regragui observes during the Africa Cup of Nations quarterfinal match between Cameroon and Morocco, in Rabat, Morocco on January 9, 2026. Regragui’s team reached the semifinals of the 2022 World Cup but disappointed at the last Africa Cup in Ivory Coast. It is under huge pressure to win the tournament as host and end a 50-year wait since Morocco won its only Africa Cup title in 1976. But Regragui can only focus on the field, where he expects an exhibition on Wednesday with the continent’s best teams and players competing in ideal conditions. “Good stadiums, good playing fields, good climate, and I think the players you should have in the semifinals: Salah, Ballon d’Or, Hakimi, Ballon d’Or, Lookman, Ballon d’Or, Osimhen, Ballon d’Or, Mané, Ballon d’Or,” Regragui said, referring to all the African Footballer of the Year awards they had won.

Source: The North Africa Journal January 14, 2026 18:28 UTC