Absent during the last African Cup of Nations in Cameroon, Hakim Ziyech has just refused to return to selection as part of the play-offs for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. The Atlas Lions are due to face the DRC on March 25 and 29.
The 28-year-old winger, who has 40 caps for 17 goals, is in conflict with Vahid Halilhodzic, the coach, who accuses him of disciplinary problems. He hasn’t played with Morocco since June 12, 2021. If he thinks to himself first “ sorry to disappoint the fans “, Hakim Ziyech admits that it is not an easy decision to take and that he has no other choice.
” A lack of respect towards me »
“ Although I have given everything for the team over the past six years, the leaders continue to spread false information about me and my commitment to my country. Their actions prevented me from continuing to be part of the team. I wish the team the best for the future. As a player, I focus on my club “, he writes on social networks. And to add: For a year and a half, not a single person from the federation or the technical staff has taken the time to communicate or discuss with me the exact reasons for this situation. Never before have I felt this disrespect towards me as a professional athlete or just as a human being.. »
At the beginning of February, the former Ajax Amsterdam player announced that he was retiring from international football. “ I will not return to the selection. This is my final decision. It’s clear to me. I focus on my club now. I understand the disappointment of the supporters, I feel sorry for them he said.
Problems with Hervé Renard too
With Morocco, Hakim Ziyech had other complicated moments, under the leadership of Hervé Renard, who had not called him up for CAN 2017 in Gabon. The former coach of Côte d’Ivoire criticized him for not ” bear to stay on the substitutes’ bench “. ” I am really disappointed. When you want to represent your country and you are prevented from doing so, you have to deal with it and above all not show proof of demotivation “, replied the European champion.
In June 2017, the president of the federation, Fouzi Lekjaa, went to Amsterdam with the French coach to bring the two men together. Hakim Ziyech will participate in the 2018 World Cup in Russia and the CAN 2019 in Egypt. If Morocco gets its ticket to Qatar, Hakim Ziyech should therefore not play a second World Cup in a row, something quite rare for an African player.