Regragui and Thiaw Faced Heartbreak in AFCON Finals as Players
The opposing coaches for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final in Rabat on Sunday, Moroccos Walid Regragui and Senegals Pape Thiaw, both endured the pain of defeat in a championship match while playing as team members.
Forwards Thiaw featured in the Senegal lineup that fell in the 2002 AFCON final via penalties following a goalless stalemate against title holders Cameroon.
Defender Regragui took part in the next decider two years on, where Morocco went down 2-1 to home side Tunisia.
Senegal has appeared in two more AFCON championship clashes since, dropping a decision to Algeria in 2019 while overcoming Egypt on spot kicks three years after.
Yet prior to the 2025 edition, Morocco had not advanced past the last eight in eight efforts following their runner-up finish in Tunisia.
Regragui made history in 2022 by guiding Morocco to the World Cup semifinals, stunning Belgium, Spain, and Portugal along the way.
This marked the initial instance of an African or Arab team arriving at the final four of the every-four-years international spectacle.
The feat stood out even more since Regragui assumed control of the Atlas Lions merely three months ahead of the World Cups start, succeeding dismissed Bosnian Vahid Halilhodzic.
Morocco defied expectations and conventions by leading a pool with Croatia and Belgium, then ousting Spain on penalties and Portugal prior to a loss against France.
Riding their Qatar exploits, Morocco entered as strong frontrunners to claim the 2024 AFCON in Ivory Coast.
However, after sailing into the knockout stage, they faltered versus South Africa. An outstanding free-kick strike by Teboho Mokoena clinched a 2-0 upset for the outsiders.
With smooth qualification for the 2026 World Cup secured, Morocco stands one win from halting a 50-year drought for a second AFCON crown, following their 1976 success in Ethiopia.
We rank as solid frontrunners for this AFCON. I have seen reports claiming we will take the prize with ease, and that failing to do so would brand our effort a flop, Regragui shared with journalists.
Lacked humility
My responsibility, alongside my team and the veteran squad members, involves maintaining level-headedness and recalling the reasons Morocco has gone 50 years without an AFCON victory.
We missed out on the AFCON due to insufficient modesty across various editions, and we cannot repeat that error.
Morocco has advanced since that setback to South Africa. The roster received fresh blood. We blended in new talents alongside the seasoned backbone of the side.
We approached this competition with assurance, yet guarantees remain absent, noted the 50-year-old Paris southern suburb native.
Regragui earned 44 caps for Morocco over a 14-year player stint, mostly in France. He spent two campaigns at Racing Santander in Spain and one at Moghreb Tetouan in Morocco.
Prior to leading the Atlas Lions, his standout managerial success came from steering Wydad Casablanca past Egyptian powerhouse Al Ahly in the 2022 CAF Champions League decider.
Post the 2002 AFCON final letdown, Thiaw joined the World Cup journey in South Korea and Japan that same year.
Senegal shocked title defenders France with a 1-0 opener triumph and surpassed predictions by hitting the quarterfinals, succumbing to Turkey there.
Born in Dakar, Thiaw netted five times in 16 outings for his country and suited up for outfits in France, Switzerland, Russia, and Spain before hanging up his boots in 2009.
Following three years at the helm of Niarry Tally, a side funded by a snack firm, he earned the Senegal senior role in December 2024 as preparation for the 2023 African Nations Championship, limited to locally based athletes.
Thiaw surprisingly steered his nation to triumph, beating host and top pick Algeria on penalties after a scoreless tie in the title match.
At 44 now, he replaced Aliou Cisse for the main team and has tasted defeat only once, against Brazil in a London preparation game.