A new comparative study explained why Morocco head coach Walid Regragui’s spiritual leadership helped the national team succeed at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar but did not have the same effect at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in Cote d’Ivoire.
Conducted by Fatima-Zahra Hannoun from ENCG Tangier, the research, published by the Moroccan Journal of Business Studies (MJBS), compared Regragui’s leadership style across the two tournaments using Fry’s 2003 spiritual leadership model, which focuses on vision, faith, meaning, belonging, and altruistic love.
The study found that during the 2022 World Cup, the five dimensions worked together to inspire historic results.
During the 2022 World Cup, Regragui’s vision went beyond just winning matches. It aimed to change mentalities in African football and framed the tournament as a collective mission for Morocco, Africa, and the Arab world.
Regragui’s faith, the source added, turned the team’s limitations into strength, giving players the belief to overcome every obstacle.
His leadership also gave the squad a sense of purpose and unity, with each player acting for a greater collective mission.
Yet, at AFCON 2023, Regragui’s approach became more pragmatic and defensive, focused on managing the tournament rather than inspiring the future.
Vision, faith, meaning, and belonging all weakened, with the group becoming more protective and reactive in response to criticism.
The study found that only altruistic love remained consistent, as Regragui continued to protect and support his players, but it was not enough to replicate the World Cup success.
It said that the team arrived as a big team to manage, no longer as an underdog ready to face the impossible, “a mindset difference that helps explain the contrast between their World Cup success and the African disappointment.”
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