Rabat – Walid Regragui, head coach of the Moroccan national team, congratulated his players for their standout performances with their clubs on the global stage during their first training session ahead of the Bahrain match.
He began by praising Achraf Hakimi for finishing sixth in the 2025 Ballon d’Or rankings, saying: “Let’s first congratulate Achraf sixth place in the Ballon d’Or. You deserve better, but you’ve broken a record. No Moroccan has ever reached that position before.”
Regragui then motivated the squad: “This is an example. Every player here should say: Achraf reached sixth, I want to reach fifth, fourth, third… or even win the Ballon d’Or. That’s how you should think and come back stronger.”
He also congratulated Yassine Bounou, goalkeeper for Al Hilal, for placing fifth in the Yashin Trophy for best goalkeeper in the world, saying: “Congratulations to Yassine as well. Just like with Achraf, this is a role model for young goalkeepers.”
Finally, Regragui praised striker Ayoub El Kaabi for winning the Best Player award in the Greek league: “Ayoub El Kaabi, who won Best Player in the Greek league, congratulations to him.”
These achievements demonstrate the development of Moroccan football and the strategic investment in youth academies. As Moroccan talents thrive in top European leagues, Morocco is becoming a powerhouse in global football.
