Moroccan Artist Carves Image of Walid Regragui After World Cup Exploits

• Walid Regragui has been earning plaudits across the world for his World Cup exploits
• A Moroccan artist has now recreated the coach's likeness on a wall using a hammer
• Regragui became the first coach to lead an African team to a World Cup semi-final

Popular Moroccan artist Ismail Hjila has decided to celebrate coach of the Atlas Lions, Walid Regragui, by carving his image into a wall.

The former Morocco defender became the first coach to lead an African team to the semi-final of the World Cup.

Regragui's team eliminated favourites Belgium at the group stage, before beating Spain and Portugal en route to the last four.

His accomplishment has been widely celebrated across the continent, with Hjila deciding to honour the 47-year-old with a lovely portrait. The artist carved the coach into a wall with a tool.

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Morocco will be hoping to become the first nation from Africa to reach the final of the World Cup, when they face France in the semi-final.

Regragui was born in France and started his career in the capital, where he played for Racing Paris. He later joined Toulouse, but left after two seasons to play for Ajaccio.

His only stint out of France was when he played for Racing Santander of Spain. He ended his career in the Moroccan league with Moghreb Tetouan.

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Earlier, Sports Brief reported that Morocco head coach Regragui has opened up on the motivation behind his side's stunning 2022 World Cup campaign.

The Atlas Lions have been in flawless form in Qatar, with the side inking their names in history books following their win over Portugal on Saturday.

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The North Africans silenced the Europeans 1-0 during their quarter-final meeting, to become the first country on the continent to advance to the last four in the history of the tournament.

En-Nesyri makes history in Qatar

Morocco forward Youssef En Nesyri joined an elite list of African players to score in the quarter-final stage of the World Cup, Sports Brief also reported.

The Sevilla forward opened the scoring for Morocco in their game against Portugal, to join Emmanuel Kunde and Eugene Ekeke of Cameroon, as well as Ghana's Sulley Muntari as Africans to score in the last eight of the global showpiece.

En-Nesyri rose high to head home a cross from Yahia Attiyat Allah and break the deadlock in the 42nd minute.