Walid Regragui: “Accepting defeat, to come back stronger”

With a solemn face and a dignified speech, Walid Regragui did not conceal the pain. "Very, very tough, I won’t lie to you. We were less than a minute away from being African champions," he declared at the outset.

A final that slipped away, a minute short of history

According to Regragui, Morocco had never come so close to a continental triumph. "I believe we have never been as close to an African Cup as today," he said. That proximity made the fall even more brutal, especially for a nation that has waited decades for this title.

"It is especially unfortunate for the Moroccan people. It hurts deeply," he added.

A balanced match, a cruel scenario

Regragui emphasized the game was far from one-sided. "It was a balanced match, we knew it would be decided by details."

"The image speaks for itself – a boxing match," Regragui said. Two teams traded blows, with highlights on both sides. Possession, shots, opportunities: “almost fifty‑fifty."

In a final, the coach reminded, "the few chances we have, we must take." This time, the detail tipped the wrong way.

The turning point: a missed penalty and ten men

The scenario took a dramatic turn after the missed penalty in the final seconds of regular time. "From the moment we missed the penalty, everything turned against us," Regragui said.

In addition, Igamane's injury forced Morocco to finish the match with ten players. "I think he tore his cruciate ligament," he explained, mentioning a tough blow both personally and athletically.

"Finishing a final with ten players, it's very difficult to achieve something," he acknowledged.

Brahim Diaz and the coach's responsibility

Asked about the penalty missed by Brahim Diaz, Walid Regragui refused to single out the player. "We take responsibility," he repeated, taking it upon himself.

The coach noted the long interruptions before the attempt. "There was a lot of time before he took the shot, it must have disturbed him." Without offering excuses, he stressed that "winning or losing, it's together."

Hitting the crossbar, keeping faith, never giving up – for the coach, the team showed "a good image of Moroccan football."

"You have to swallow the poison," he said, in a strong statement. "Accept the defeat, to come back stronger."

A generation called to return

Recalling that Morocco had not reached a CAN final in twenty-two years, Regragui called for continuity. "This group now knows the way to reach the final", he said.

Youthful and promising, this generation will have to learn from the pain. "They will learn, and I am convinced they will come back stronger."

Before concluding, the coach congratulated Senegal while fully accepting the setback: "If someone has to be held responsible, it's me."

A simple, straightforward line summed up a press conference marked by sadness but also unwavering conviction: Morocco fell, yet did not retreat.