Morocco Coach Confirms Barcelona’s Ezzalzouli Will Join National Team for Africa Cup of Nations

Ezzalzouli, 19, native of Beni Mellal, would have refused to play with the Lions at the Africa Cup of Nations, due to his desire to stay at Barça to gain more playing time. This rumor relayed by the Spanish press is false according to his national coach Vahid Halilhodzic, who gave an interview to the Serbian site Sportklub.

According to the national coach, the Barcelona winger had never refused to join the den of the Atlas Lions. "Ez Abde is a talented young player who has a bright career ahead of him. He has never refused the national team and I think it is Barça that is causing the problem," he stressed.

And to add "the Catalan club does not respect the Africa Cup of Nations enough. Great European FIFA clubs simply do not respect the CAN enough. It is a great competition and that is why problems like this occur".

For the preparations of the competition, Halilhodzic said he was "sure" that the player will present himself to the gathering of the Atlas Lions on January 3. "I think Barça will show wisdom and react in the right direction. Because we need a penetrating player like Abde," he concluded.