Morocco’s Ziyech Dropped from World Cup Qualifiers Amid Coach Dispute

Has Hakim Ziyech annoyed the coach of the Atlas Lions? The Franco-Bosnian coach would have excluded the Chelsea midfielder from the list of players called up for the two qualifying matches for the 2022 World Cup against Sudan and Guinea because of a disagreement between them, comments Assabah.

According to the Arabic-language newspaper, the reason for Ziyech’s non-selection would be linked to the fact that the Moroccan international had tried to mediate between Vahid Halilhodzic and his former teammate at Ajax Amsterdam, Noussair Mazraoui, so that the latter would rejoin the Moroccan national team. An intervention that would not be to the liking of the coach, as he had previously warned his players against any attempt to interfere in his choices.

Last Thursday, the national coach had justified the cancellation of his press conference by a Covid-19 contamination. In the eyes of the newspaper, it would be a mere pretext to avoid the questions that journalists would ask him about Ziyech’s non-selection for the national team.

On Friday, the former Ajax Amsterdam star reacted to Halilhodzic’s decision by posting a wide smiley on his Instagram account. A seemingly mocking laugh.