Former Kaizer Chiefs head coach Nasreddine Nabi has been shown the exit door by Moroccan giants Raja Athletic Club after a short and turbulent spell in charge.
The Tunisian tactician’s latest coaching chapter has ended abruptly, with reports indicating that disagreements with Raja’s sporting director played a major role in his departure.
Nabi had only been in the job for a few months, but tensions behind the scenes reportedly made it increasingly difficult for him to continue working with the club’s management structure.
The 61-year-old has now left Raja questioning how the situation was handled, while also making it clear that he believes the sporting director had too much influence over key football decisions.
Nabi Opens Up About Raja Fallout
According to reports from Moroccan media, Nabi had already informed Raja’s management that he was finding it difficult to continue under the existing circumstances.
The former Chiefs coach reportedly became frustrated with the working relationship between himself and the club’s sporting director.
Nabi has claimed that management ultimately chose to back the sporting director and continue with its existing project rather than allowing him to remain in charge.
He also questioned the level of involvement he was given in recruitment decisions.
One example he highlighted was the signing of a striker, which he said happened without his knowledge or input.
Nabi reportedly only discovered the player’s arrival through information published online.
For a head coach, particularly one expected to build a long-term project, such a situation can create significant tension between the technical team and club hierarchy.
Former Chiefs Coach Leaves With His Reputation in Focus
Despite accepting the decision to terminate his contract, Nabi expressed disappointment over the way the matter was handled.
He argued that the club could have communicated its intentions earlier instead of allowing him to begin working under conditions that he considered unsuitable.
The latest development represents another unexpected setback in a coaching career that has seen Nabi move between clubs at a rapid pace.
His departure from Raja comes after his spell with Kaizer Chiefs, where he spent approximately 14 months in charge of the Soweto giants.
Nabi’s Kaizer Chiefs Chapter
Nabi arrived at Kaizer Chiefs with considerable expectations and was tasked with helping the club return to the top of South African football.
His time at Amakhosi ultimately produced one major piece of silverware.
He guided Chiefs to the 2025 Nedbank Cup, giving the club a long-awaited trophy and providing a significant highlight during his tenure.
However, Nabi’s time in Naturena eventually came to an end.
Following his departure, his assistants Khalil Ben Youssef and Cedric Kaze took over the coaching responsibilities.
Nabi’s exit from Chiefs opened the door to his return to North African football, but his latest Raja experience has ended far sooner than he would have hoped.
A Rapid Coaching Journey
Nabi’s recent career has been characterised by frequent changes.
He joined Moroccan side AS FAR in 2023, but remained there for only around a year before moving to South Africa and taking charge of Kaizer Chiefs.
After his departure from Amakhosi, Nabi moved on to Raja, making the Moroccan club his latest stop.
His latest exit means the coach has now gone through three clubs in a relatively short period.
That sequence raises questions about what comes next for the experienced Tunisian tactician.
What’s Next for Nasreddine Nabi?
Despite the setback at Raja, Nabi remains a coach with experience across African football and a proven ability to compete for major honours.
His success with Kaizer Chiefs, particularly the Nedbank Cup triumph, means he still has achievements to point to when considering his next opportunity.
The major question will be whether Nabi opts to remain in African football or considers a move to another league.
For now, the Tunisian coach faces another period of uncertainty — but with his experience and track record, another club could come calling sooner rather than later.
Nabi’s Raja chapter is over. The next destination could determine the direction of the next stage of his coaching career.
