Hakim Ziyech acknowledges that he did not deserve the selection

Excluded from the selection since September 2024, the 32-year-old winger is following the competition from a distance. His late arrival at Wydad Casablanca at the end of October, coupled with the inability to be qualified in Botola before January, deprived him of official playing time in recent months. A lack of rhythm that justified his non-selection given the increased competition in his position.

In his reaction, Ziyech dismissed any controversy. He acknowledged that his absence was justified by his declining performances over the past two seasons. "The most important thing is that my teammates win the title. If that’s the case, we’ll all celebrate together," he said, showing his solidarity with the national team.

The former Chelsea player is now focusing on his debut with Wydad. His first official appearance is expected on January 25 against Maniema Union, during the group stage of the CAF Cup.