Samba Diawara switches Morocco discussions for coaching role at AJ Auxerre

Samba Diawara will not join the Morocco national set-up after opting to return to club football in France with AJ Auxerre.

The French-Malian coach had been in talks with the Federation Royale Marocaine de Football (FRMF) about taking up a role within its technical structure. One possibility was for him to strengthen the staff of the Morocco Under-23 side, but the discussions did not lead to an agreement.

Diawara has instead joined AJ Auxerre as assistant manager, becoming part of the coaching team led by Belgian manager Will Still.

He will work alongside former France international Djibril Cisse and replaces another former France international, Jean-Alain Boumsong. Boumsong had been an assistant at the club since May 2025, following a brief and turbulent spell in his native Cameroon a few years earlier.

The move represents another step in Diawara’s coaching career. He began working as a coach in Belgium before joining the Stade de Reims staff in 2022, when the club was managed by Still.

Diawara later took charge of Stade de Reims on an interim basis on two occasions. He had previously been the club’s manager before leaving his role.

His appointment at AJ Auxerre brings an end, at least for now, to the possibility of him joining Morocco. As recently as one week ago, Diawara was still in discussions with FRMF officials, with no final agreement reached over his position within the federation’s technical structure.

Morocco Under-23 manager Mohamed Ouahbi confirmed last Thursday that the federation was looking to strengthen several of its coaching teams, with particular attention being paid to the Under-23 staff.

“There are recruitments being made at the federation, at the level of the DTN, but especially also at Under-23 level. We are negotiating with people to join the Under-23 staff,” Ouahbi said.

He also confirmed that Jamel Ait Ben Idir would remain in charge of the Under-23 team, while acknowledging the desire to appoint an experienced assistant.

“It is clear that we were looking for an experienced assistant,” Ouahbi added.

Diawara appeared to be among the coaches under consideration by the FRMF. The federation will now have to continue its search after the former Mali international chose to continue his career in the Yonne with AJ Auxerre.