Zambia name George Lwandamina
Morocco and Zambia have both made coaching changes to their national teams as they prepare for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will take place from June 11 to July 19.
Morocco have appointed Mohamed Ouahbi as their new head coach, replacing Walid Regragui. The decision was confirmed by the Royal Morocco Football Federation on Thursday.
Regragui leaves the role after Morocco failed to win the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations on home soil. The Atlas Lions reached the final but lost 1–0 to Senegal in Rabat. The match was controversial and was stopped for more than 15 minutes after Morocco were awarded a late penalty.
Regragui had taken charge of the national team in 2022 shortly before the World Cup in Qatar. Despite earlier reports that he would stay, the federation decided to appoint Ouahbi instead.
Ouahbi will lead Morocco at the 2026 World Cup, with João Sacramento, a former assistant to José Mourinho, and Youssouf Hadji joining his coaching staff.
Ouahbi started his coaching career at the age of 21 with Belgian club Maccabi Brussels, where he worked with youth teams for six years.
In 2003 he joined Anderlecht and coached several youth teams, from under-9 to under-21 level. In 2022 he became coach of Morocco’s under-20 national team.
Under his leadership, Morocco won the 2024 UNAF U-20 tournament and qualified for the 2025 Africa U-20 Cup of Nations. They reached the final of that competition but lost 1–0 to South Africa.
Later in 2025, Ouahbi led Morocco to their first ever FIFA U-20 World Cup title in Chile. Morocco beat the United States in the quarter-finals, defeated France on penalties in the semi-finals, and then beat Argentina 2–0 in the final.
Morocco will play in Group C at the 2026 World Cup alongside Brazil, Haiti and Scotland. Their first match will be against Brazil on June 14, followed by Scotland on June 20 and Haiti on June 25.
Meanwhile, Zambia have appointed experienced coach George Lwandamina as interim head coach of the national team, replacing Moses Sichone.
The Football Association of Zambia said the changes were made to improve the team’s performance.
Lwandamina previously coached Zambia between 2015 and 2016 and is currently the coach of Nchanga Rangers. He will be assisted by Power Dynamos coach Oswald Mutapa Jr.
Assistant coach Perry Mutapa has also left the technical staff, although the rest of the coaching team will remain the same.
Lwandamina’s first task will be to lead Zambia at the Four-Nation Tournament in Francistown, Botswana, which will take place from March 23 to March 31, 2026.
