The head coach of the Morocco national team, Walid Regragui, has said he is not afraid of being sacked by the Royal Moroccan Football Federation should the host nation lose to Nigeria in their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations semifinal match on Wednesday.

Mr Regragui spoke while answering questions from journalists about his future with the Atlas Lions at the pre-match press conference ahead of the match-up against the Super Eagles.

He stated that the risk of getting sacked by federations is the reality of coaches on the job. 

“Every coach when you have this job, you need to prepare for this. My job is to do the work on the pitch with my players so I am not afraid about being sacked,” said Regragui who led Morocco to a historic fourth place finish at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

Despite Morocco’s remarkable success in recent years under Mr Regragui, a sizable portion of the Moroccan football community appears discontented with the 50-year-old’s playing style, which they described as too ‘cautious.’

Speaking further, Mr Regragui highlighted his achievements with the team since 2022, which he said would have shielded coaches in other countries from criticism for life, pointing out that the situation is different in Morocco. 

The former Morroco international said, “In this country (Morocco), it is like this. You need to accept every result like this. I am still focused, which is what is important. What is important is to win.

“When you only lose four matches in three years and you reach the World Cup and AFCON semifinals you would be immune in other countries but it is different in Morocco.”