The fall is dizzying for Morocco.
The semi-finalist of the 2022 World Cup, big favorite for CAN 2024, was eliminated on Tuesday evening, in the round of 16.
Trailing 1-0 by South Africa, the Atlas Lions obtained a penalty at the very end of the match, hit on the bar by Achraf Hakimi (85th).
Before conceding a second goal, a few moments later (90th + 4, 2-0).
The Moroccan coach, Walid Regragui, came to support the Parisian defender.
“The penalty happens, it’s football.
Achraf would perhaps have allowed us to get back into the match but afterwards, at the end, when we look at the situations at the end, the way we gave up, it didn't reflect our team.
» Looking disappointed, the Moroccan right side of PSG was consoled by his coach at the end of the match.
“Not like our team”
“I assume this responsibility, my choices, everything that happened,” said Walid Regragui.
The bankruptcy is collective according to him: “When we look at the situations at the end, how we gave up... It’s not a reflection of our team.
We made mistakes that are unlike us.
We can't afford to miss so many situations.
»
Read alsoCAN 2024: the complete quarter-final table
Coach since the end of August 2022, Walid Regragui is experiencing his first failure at the head of Morocco.
The objective set, that of the semi-finals, was not achieved.
“I’m going to sit down with my president and we’re going to have a good chat.
In any case, I never hide.
We will take our responsibilities and I take mine.
I failed so I have to accept it.
»