Moroccan Football Federation Disputes Claims by Mazraoui and Ziyech Over National Team Selection

The Moroccan press widely relayed on Monday the summary of the intervention of Fouzi Lekjaa, president of the FRMF on MFM Radio, especially the part concerning the return to the national team of Mazraoui and Ziyech. The reaction of the two players did not wait. In a long message posted on social media, Hakim Ziyech had claimed to have learned about his pre-selection "at the same time as everyone else", accusing the FRMF of playing a murky game and disseminating erroneous information about his person.

However, the FRMF explains that it received an acknowledgment of receipt from Chelsea on March 3. "Hakim Ziyech says he only learned of his call-up through the media. Either he was lying, or he was forced to say so for certain reasons that concerned him, or Chelsea’s administration did not inform him of the call-up. Unfortunately, the federation does not know the background of the case," a source within the federation said.

Regarding Noussair Mazraoui, he justifies his negative response to the pre-selection by the fact that no one within the federation wanted to know what was happening and the reasons for his sidelining. He evokes a lack of respect towards his person. He criticized the lack of communication with Vahid Halilhodzic. Yet, according to the FRMF, he spoke with the coach for more than an hour in a videoconference before the invitation to join the Lions was sent to him.

When will this clash between the players, the coach and the federation end? For now, Noussair Mazraoui and Hakim Ziyech are maintaining their decision to remain on the sidelines of the national team. Vahid Halilhodzic’s final list is expected this Thursday. It will certainly be without the names of the two players. Morocco will face the Democratic Republic of Congo on March 25 at the Martyrs’ Stadium in Kinshasa, then on March 29 at the Mohammed V Complex in Casablanca.