Morocco head coach Walid Regragui has played down fears over his job security ahead of his side’s AFCON 2025 semi-final showdown with Nigeria, insisting that uncertainty comes with the territory of elite football management.
Speaking at his pre-match press conference on Tuesday, Regragui was asked whether defeat against the Super Eagles could put his position under threat. His response was blunt and unapologetic.
“Every coach knows he must be prepared for the sack if he doesn’t win,” he said.
“But I don’t think about that. I’m not afraid of being sacked.”
The comments underline the intense pressure surrounding the latter stages of the Africa Cup of Nations, particularly for Morocco, who are chasing only their second AFCON title in history.
Regragui, who guided the Atlas Lions to a historic semi-final finish at the 2022 FIFA World Cup, has once again led expectations back home, with fans hoping the current squad can finally translate promise into continental glory.
The semi-final against Nigeria is shaping up as one of the tournament’s defining encounters, with both teams eyeing a place in the final and aware that success or failure could have lasting consequences beyond the pitch.
