Morocco’s Soccer Chief Pushes for Reconciliation Ahead of World Cup

The Atlas Lions qualified for the World Cup in Qatar, despite the tensions generated by the conflict between the national coach and certain players, including Hakim Ziyech and Noussair Mazraoui. Long remained on the sidelines of this situation, Fouzi Lekjaa has decided to get involved, putting pressure on the coach so that the differences are smoothed out for the good of the national team, which needs the mobilization of all to meet the challenge that awaits it from November.

The president of the FRMF has clearly told Afrika Foot that the door cannot be closed to a player who has voluntarily chosen to wear the national jersey. "These players, even if they have made mistakes, we must not forget that originally, they chose the national team," the leader first recalled. "According to my conviction, the door of the national team is open to all Moroccan players, regardless of the dispute. No one has the right to deprive a Moroccan player of the national team. This applies to Ziyech, Mazraoui, Hamdallah and the others. And this subject is not open to any discussion, whether with Vahid Halilhodzic or with anyone else," he said firmly.

Fouzi Lekjaa finally assured that there is no particular tension between him and Halilhodzic. "In order to dispel any misunderstanding, there is no disagreement between coach Halilhodzic and myself, and any official decision regarding his future will be published through the official communication platforms of the Federation. Halilhodzic is the coach of the national team and has a contract with the FRMF," the federation president specified, to put an end to the rumors.