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Regragui Appointed Morocco Coach Ahead of World Cup

Walid Regragui has been appointed head coach of Morocco before the 2022 World Cup Mustafa. AFP
Walid Regragui has been appointed head coach of Morocco before the 2022 World Cup Mustafa. AFP
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Regragui Appointed Morocco Coach Ahead of World Cup

Walid Regragui has been appointed head coach of Morocco before the 2022 World Cup Mustafa. AFP
Walid Regragui has been appointed head coach of Morocco before the 2022 World Cup Mustafa. AFP

Former Moroccan international Walid Regragui has been appointed head coach of the national side just three months before the 2022 World Cup, the football federation announced Wednesday.

The 46-year-old takes over from Franco-Bosnian Vahid Halilhodzic, who was dismissed on August 11 because of "differences of opinion" over preparations for the global tournament which kicks off in Qatar on November 20.

"We are all behind (Regragui) in his new mission at the head of the national team, and we wish him good luck," Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) president Fouzi Lekjaa told journalists in Rabat.

AFP quoted Regragui as saying that the Moroccan public were "expecting good results".

"We want to do great things ... and we'll give our all to make you happy," he said.

Regragui was born south of Paris and played as a defender for Toulouse, Ajaccio, Dijon and Grenoble as well as chalking up 45 caps with Morocco's national team.

He was coach of FUS Rabat between 2014-2020 and briefly led Qatari club Al-Duhail.

He then coached Wydad Casablanca for one triumphant season, leading the club to victory against Egypt's Al-Ahly to win the African Champions League as well as clinching the Moroccan league title.

He quit Wydad earlier this month and has now become the first Moroccan national to lead the Lions of the Atlas since 2016.

Regragui will be seeking to repeat Morocco's success of 1986, when they became the first African team in history to reach the round of 16.

In Qatar, Morocco will face Croatia, Belgium and Canada in Group F.

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Report: Brazil’s Militao Risks Missing World Cup with Hamstring Injury

Real Madrid defender Eder Militao (C) leaves the pitch during the Spanish LaLiga soccer match between Real Madrid and Deportivo Alaves at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium in Madrid, Spain, 21 April 2026. (EPA)
Real Madrid defender Eder Militao (C) leaves the pitch during the Spanish LaLiga soccer match between Real Madrid and Deportivo Alaves at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium in Madrid, Spain, 21 April 2026. (EPA)
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Report: Brazil’s Militao Risks Missing World Cup with Hamstring Injury

Real Madrid defender Eder Militao (C) leaves the pitch during the Spanish LaLiga soccer match between Real Madrid and Deportivo Alaves at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium in Madrid, Spain, 21 April 2026. (EPA)
Real Madrid defender Eder Militao (C) leaves the pitch during the Spanish LaLiga soccer match between Real Madrid and Deportivo Alaves at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium in Madrid, Spain, 21 April 2026. (EPA)

Real Madrid's Brazil defender Eder Militao is at serious risk of missing the World Cup after suffering a hamstring injury, sources close to the club and the national team told Reuters.

Real confirmed in midweek that Militao felt a twinge in a challenge shortly before halftime ‌in Tuesday's ‌win against Alaves and ‌signaled ⁠straight away to be ⁠replaced.

While Real coach Alvaro Arbeloa initially struck an optimistic tone after the game, an MRI scan later revealed a muscle injury to the hamstring in Militao's left ⁠leg.

Spanish radio COPE first reported ‌it was a ‌recurrence of the injury he sustained ‌in December, which could require surgery ‌and rule him out of the World Cup, which starts in less than 50 days. Reuters has confirmed that ‌report with several sources.

The 28-year-old now faces an anxious wait. ⁠Sources ⁠told Reuters a final decision will be made and announced on Monday, when Militao undergoes a new series of examinations with Real's doctors to determine the next steps.

The latest blow marks another setback for the Brazilian center back, who has endured a succession of injuries in recent seasons, including ACL tears in back-to-back years.

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Real Madrid’s Mbappe Suffers Hamstring Issue at Betis

Soccer Football - LaLiga - Real Betis v Real Madrid - Estadio de La Cartuja, Seville, Spain - April 24, 2026 Real Madrid's Kylian Mbappe reacts. (Reuters)
Soccer Football - LaLiga - Real Betis v Real Madrid - Estadio de La Cartuja, Seville, Spain - April 24, 2026 Real Madrid's Kylian Mbappe reacts. (Reuters)
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Real Madrid’s Mbappe Suffers Hamstring Issue at Betis

Soccer Football - LaLiga - Real Betis v Real Madrid - Estadio de La Cartuja, Seville, Spain - April 24, 2026 Real Madrid's Kylian Mbappe reacts. (Reuters)
Soccer Football - LaLiga - Real Betis v Real Madrid - Estadio de La Cartuja, Seville, Spain - April 24, 2026 Real Madrid's Kylian Mbappe reacts. (Reuters)

Real Madrid striker Kylian Mbappe suffered a "muscle overload" in his left hamstring during the team's 1-1 draw at Real Betis in La Liga, a club source told AFP on Friday.

Mbappe asked to be substituted in the final 10 minutes of the game, which left his side eight points behind league leaders Barcelona.

The France captain's problem does not appear to be serious, pending further tests, easing any potential concerns ahead of the World Cup this summer.

"I have no idea (how Mbappe is), he had some discomfort and we will see how it develops in the coming days," said coach Alvaro Arbeloa when asked by reporters about the forward, Madrid's top goalscorer, after the game.

On Wednesday Barcelona's teenage winger Lamine Yamal suffered a hamstring injury which ruled him out until the end of the season, although he is expected to be fit to play at the World Cup for Spain.

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Forest Blitz Sunderland to Close in on Premier League Safety

24 April 2026, United Kingdom, Sunderland: Nottingham Forest's Igor Jesus (C) celebrates scoring their side's fourth goal of the game with teammates during the English Premier League match between Sunderland and Nottingham Forest at the Stadium of Light. (Owen Humphreys/PA Wire/dpa)
24 April 2026, United Kingdom, Sunderland: Nottingham Forest's Igor Jesus (C) celebrates scoring their side's fourth goal of the game with teammates during the English Premier League match between Sunderland and Nottingham Forest at the Stadium of Light. (Owen Humphreys/PA Wire/dpa)
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Forest Blitz Sunderland to Close in on Premier League Safety

24 April 2026, United Kingdom, Sunderland: Nottingham Forest's Igor Jesus (C) celebrates scoring their side's fourth goal of the game with teammates during the English Premier League match between Sunderland and Nottingham Forest at the Stadium of Light. (Owen Humphreys/PA Wire/dpa)
24 April 2026, United Kingdom, Sunderland: Nottingham Forest's Igor Jesus (C) celebrates scoring their side's fourth goal of the game with teammates during the English Premier League match between Sunderland and Nottingham Forest at the Stadium of Light. (Owen Humphreys/PA Wire/dpa)

Nottingham Forest smashed Sunderland 5-0 on Friday to pull eight points clear of the Premier League relegation zone, heaping extra pressure on struggling Tottenham.

The stunning result at the Stadium of Light effectively turns the battle to avoid the final relegation spot into a two-horse race between Spurs and West Ham, with Wolves and Burnley already doomed.

Vitor Pereira's Forest have found a rich vein of form at just the right time and are now unbeaten in six league games.

Sunderland enjoyed the bulk of possession in the early stages of an absorbing contest in the northeast of England, but the visitors looked consistently dangerous when they attacked.

Forest broke the deadlock in the 17th minute when Trai Hume deflected Igor Jesus' header into his own net, but that gave little indication of what was to follow in an extraordinary opening period.

Chris Wood doubled the lead in the 31st minute, finishing smartly after Sunderland goalkeeper Robin Roefs gifted possession to the away side.

Morgan Gibbs-White volleyed home to make it 3-0 and three minutes later it was 4-0 when Jesus hammered home at the back post, leaving mid-table Sunderland shellshocked.

The home side battled harder in the second half. Dan Ballard nodded home on the hour mark, but the goal was ruled out for a foul by Nordi Mukiele.

But Forest largely remained in control and rubbed salt into Sunderland's wounds when Elliot Anderson passed the ball into the net to make it five in stoppage time.

The emphatic win takes Forest to 39 points and the brink of safety.

Pereira said his side were still not safe despite their impressive run.

"We are in a good moment," he told Sky Sports. "Because we created the spirit, we created the mentality.

"And tactically now, because we have more time working together, we are in a moment that we can face every game to get points."

The East Midlands club have had a turbulent season under four different permanent managers but could end the campaign on a real high -- with a Europa League semi-final against Aston Villa to come.

Attention now turns to Saturday's matches at the bottom of the table.

Tottenham, under new manager Roberto De Zerbi, travel to basement side Wolves at the same time as West Ham host Everton.

Spurs, who were last relegated in 1977, are on 31 points -- two behind the Hammers. Both teams have five matches left.