Morocco’s Ziyech Thrives Under Regragui’s Leadership, Propels Team to World Cup Round of 16

With the arrival of Walid Regragui at the head of the Moroccan team, Hakim Ziyech has made his return to the national team and is participating in his second World Cup with Morocco. "We know what we have to do to make the Moroccans proud of us," he said on the eve of the start of the competition.

Today, the Atlas Lions are in the round of 16 thanks in part to Ziyech, who has become the third Moroccan player, after Mustapha Hadji and Abdeljalil Hadda, to score and provide an assist in the same World Cup. He opened the scoring against Canada (2-1) and provided an assist to Aboukhal against Belgium (2-0).

"He is incredible. A lot of people say that Hakim is a difficult boy to manage, but what I see is that if you give him love and trust, he will die for you," said Walid Regragui about Ziyech, who is considered a "rebel".

The former Ajax player had participated in the 2018 World Cup in Russia with the Atlas Lions, but missed the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations under Hervé Renard and the 2021 edition under Vahid Halilhodzic due to his "indiscipline".