João Sacramento has been officially appointed as the new head coach of the Atlas Lions, Morocco’s national football team. The Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) confirmed the Portuguese manager’s arrival on a contract running until the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
In his first statements since the announcement, Sacramento was full of praise for the team he now leads. “I am very proud and honored to be here,” he said. “The Atlas Lions are not just a team; they are a symbol of a nation, a continent, and the Arab world. They carry a tremendous weight of hope and passion.”
The 35-year-old coach, who previously worked as an assistant to José Mourinho at Roma and Tottenham Hotspur, takes over from Walid Regragui. His appointment follows Morocco’s round of 16 exit at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations and their historic fourth-place finish at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
Sacramento outlined his immediate focus, stating his primary objective is to qualify Morocco for the 2026 World Cup. The qualification campaign is set to begin in November of this year. He emphasized his commitment to building on the strong foundations already in place. “We have a very solid base to work from,” Sacramento noted. “The goal is to continue this beautiful story and write new chapters.”
The new coach also revealed his first major squad decision. He confirmed that captain Romain Saïss and star midfielder Hakim Ziyech have both been recalled to the national team. The duo will be part of the squad for the upcoming international friendlies later this month.
