Regragui after Morocco’s victory over Bahrain: A match that revealed gaps before the Congo clash
Walid Regragui, coach of the Moroccan national football team, stated that the hard-fought victory achieved by the Atlas Lions against Bahrain with a score of 1-0 last night is an important milestone for drawing lessons ahead of the Democratic Republic of Congo match in the qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup.
In the press conference following the match, Regragui mentioned that the game “was a useful test rather than just a friendly win,” pointing out that it highlighted certain aspects needing improvement to continue the team’s collective development.
The national coach explained that the encounter “was not as easy as some players thought,” emphasizing that the Bahraini team showed disciplined performance, complicating the task for the Moroccan squad, which played without several key players due to injury.
He added, “What I like about such matches is that they pose necessary questions regarding our style of play and positioning, forcing us to seek new solutions,” noting that “the substitutes had a clear impact in changing the course of the match and restoring balance.”
Regragui stressed that the goal at this stage is not limited to achieving victories, but “to build a team capable of competing under all circumstances,” highlighting that the national team will continue to work towards achieving a new accomplishment on Tuesday against Congo and breaking the world record for consecutive victories.
For his part, Bahraini coach Dragan Talajic praised the level displayed by the Moroccan team, considering that “playing against a team of Morocco’s stature is a rich experience and its lessons are valuable for our young players.” He added that the Moroccan national team “has high quality, making it one of the strongest teams on the international stage currently.”
The Moroccan team will play its next match against the Democratic Republic of Congo on October 14 at Prince Moulay Abdullah Stadium in Rabat, as part of the African qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup, which is slated to be held in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
