By Kunle Solaja.

The Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) has appointed Mohamed Ouahbi as the new head coach of Morocco’s senior national football team as part of a broader strategic vision dubbed “Morocco 2030.”

Ouahbi led Morocco to the winning of the FIFA U-20 World Cup last year in Chile.

The federation also announced that Portuguese tactician João Sacramento will join the national team’s coaching staff, bringing international experience gained at top European clubs.

The appointments were unveiled by FRMF President Fouzi Lekjaa as part of a long-term roadmap designed to strengthen Morocco’s football structure and sustain the country’s recent progress on the global stage.

Lekjaa described the changes as more than a routine managerial shift.

“This announcement is not just a simple change: it is a strategic transition,” he said. “Our goal is to continuously advance Moroccan football with a roadmap that connects the national team, youth development, training structures and women’s football.”

According to Lekjaa, the “Morocco 2030” project aims to consolidate the country’s status among the world’s elite football nations while preparing for future major tournaments, including the 2030 FIFA World Cup, which Morocco will co-host with Spain and Portugal.

Reward for Youth Development Success

Ouahbi’s appointment underscores the federation’s commitment to promoting domestic coaching expertise. The Moroccan tactician rose to prominence after guiding the country’s under-20 side to victory at the FIFA U‑20 World Cup, earning a reputation for strong player development, disciplined team structure and high-performance standards.

The federation believes his experience within Morocco’s football development system will ensure continuity between the youth teams and the senior national side.

Reacting to his appointment, Ouahbi expressed gratitude for the opportunity and pledged to uphold the ambitions of the Moroccan football project.

“I am honoured by the trust placed in me by the federation,” Ouahbi said. “We will work with dedication and humility, relying on a clear method and a collective ambition to improve match after match and help the team reach new heights.”

International Expertise Added to Technical Bench

To complement the new coach, the FRMF confirmed the addition of Sacramento to the technical staff. The Portuguese coach previously served as assistant manager at leading European clubs, including Paris Saint‑Germain, AS Roma and Tottenham Hotspur.

The federation said his experience in high-performance environments will enhance the team’s tactical preparation and day-to-day technical operations.

Tribute to Regragui

The FRMF also paid tribute to outgoing national team coach Walid Regragui for his contributions during his tenure with the Atlas Lions.

President Lekjaa praised Regragui’s dedication and service, while the former coach expressed appreciation to Morocco’s football authorities and supporters for their backing during his time in charge.

Thank you for the services…FRMF President Fouzi Lekjaa seems to be telling Walid Regragui.

The federation believes the new technical direction will help sustain Morocco’s upward trajectory and maintain the momentum generated in recent years as the country prepares for major continental and global competitions leading up to 2030.

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Morocco coach Walid Regragui ​quit his job on Thursday, only three months ahead of the World Cup finals and ending weeks ‌of speculation around his future as he said the team needed fresh guidance.

The decision had been expected for weeks but was confirmed at a late-night press conference where Regragui said the team “needed a new vision and a different energy”.

“I sincerely believe ​the team needs a new vision to be able to progress. My decision to leave is ​for the better of the team,” said Regragui, who took Morocco to the ⁠World Cup semi-final in Qatar in 2022 and was also at the helm in January when they ​lost in the final of the Africa Cup of Nations but has quit citing exhaustion.

Mohamed Ouahbi will take over ​as coach, the Moroccan Football Federation president Fouzi Lekjaa announced at the same press conference. The Belgian-born Ouahbi was in charge when Morocco won the under-20 World Cup in Chile last year.

The 50-year-old Regragui had been the target of supporter criticism ​despite a stellar record of 36 wins in 49 matches with eight draws and only five losses ​since taking over in September 2022.

During that time Morocco recorded the best achievement by an African country at the ‌World Cup ⁠and set a new world record for the most successive wins by a national team – a total of 19 between June 2024 and last December.

Regragui had wanted to quit after Morocco lost a controversial Nations Cup final to Senegal in January in a tournament they hosted and where they were hoping to end ​50 years without success in ​the continental championship.

He said ⁠he was worn out after almost four years in the post but had been persuaded to delay his decision until Morocco decided on a successor.

Morocco will play ​two friendly internationals later this month as they prepare for the World ​Cup, which kicks ⁠off in June. They take on Ecuador in Madrid on March 27 and Paraguay in Lens, France, four days later.

At the World Cup, Morocco compete in Group C with Brazil, Scotland and Haiti.

In a message to ⁠Regragui on social ​media, opens new tab, Morocco captain Achraf Hakimi said: “Thank you for the incredible ​work you did leading the Moroccan national team. Your leadership, passion, and vision inspired not only the players, but also an entire ​country and millions of fans around the world.”

-Reuters

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The intercontinental playoffs for the 2026 FIFA World Cup have been thrown into uncertainty as Iraq faces mounting logistical and diplomatic challenges that could prevent its national team from travelling to Mexico for a decisive qualifier later this month.

Officials of the Iraq Football Association (IFA) are currently in urgent discussions with FIFA after receiving confirmation that Iraqi airspace will remain closed for “at least four weeks” following the escalation of hostilities involving the United States and Iran.

According to information obtained by the UK newspaper The Guardian, the IFA received a formal notice from Iraqi Airways and the country’s Ministry of Transportation indicating that the prolonged closure of the airspace could leave nearly 40 per cent of the Iraqi squad unable to travel for the playoff.

The crisis has already disrupted preparations for the match scheduled for March 31 in Monterrey, Mexico, where Iraq is expected to face the winner of the playoff between Bolivia and Suriname in one of the decisive fixtures of the six-team intercontinental qualifying tournament.

Travel Chaos for Players and Coach

The travel restrictions have scattered the Iraqi national team across several countries, making coordinated preparation almost impossible.

Head coach Graham Arnold is currently stranded in Dubai and unable to return to Iraq due to the suspension of flights.

With air travel suspended, the only possible alternative route for players based in Iraq would involve a 25-hour road journey from Baghdad to Turkey through northern Iraq. However, security concerns along the route have raised serious doubts about whether such an option could be considered viable.

Team officials say the uncertainty has made it extremely difficult to plan training and logistics.

“We’re scattered around the world at the moment and just trying to prepare as best we can,” a source close to the Iraqi team said. “We have to plan as if the game is going ahead, but that doesn’t seem likely at the moment.”

Visa Problems Complicate Preparations

Even if travel restrictions are lifted, Iraq still faces another major hurdle — obtaining visas for Mexico and the United States.

The Iraqi team had originally planned to hold a pre-playoff training camp in Houston, Texas, but that plan has already been abandoned because several players and staff have not been able to secure U.S. visas.

The situation has worsened following the outbreak of conflict in the region, which has forced the temporary closure of several embassies in the Middle East. With Mexico lacking an embassy in Baghdad, Iraqi officials had hoped to process visas through diplomatic missions in Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, but those alternatives are currently unavailable.

Officials now fear that visa applications may not be processed in time even if Iraqi airspace reopens before the match date.

FIFA Wants Playoff to Proceed

Despite the complications, FIFA has reportedly informed the Iraqi federation that the playoff tournament will continue as scheduled.

However, the scale of the travel disruption has forced the governing body to monitor developments closely.

Iraq has already secured a place in the final round of the six-team intercontinental playoff, where two additional teams will earn places at the 2026 World Cup.

The Asian side is scheduled to face the winner of the match between Bolivia and Suriname at Monterrey’s World Cup venue.

Potential Replacement Scenario

The uncertainty surrounding Iraq’s participation comes at a time when the country has also been mentioned as a possible replacement should neighbouring Iran withdraw from the tournament amid escalating geopolitical tensions.

Iran qualified automatically through the Asian Football Confederation pathway but faces growing diplomatic and logistical complications related to the ongoing conflict and travel restrictions.

If Iran were forced to withdraw, Iraq — currently one of the highest-ranked teams outside the automatic qualifiers in the region — could emerge as a leading candidate to take its place.

Federation in Ongoing Talks

In a brief statement, the Iraq Football Association said it remains in “constant communication with FIFA regarding the arrangements for our national team’s participation.”

But with the playoff date fast approaching and major logistical barriers still unresolved, officials acknowledge that a decision on Iraq’s participation may soon become unavoidable.

For now, the fate of one of the final pathways to the 2026 World Cup remains uncertain — another reminder of how global political tensions can ripple unexpectedly into the world of football.

 

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