Join on WhatsApp
Join on Telegram
Rabat – Moroccan football star Hakim Ziyech will be left out of the national team indefinitely following complaints from coach Vahid Halilhodzic. Morocco’s Bosnian manager stated that the 28-old attacking player has “refused to work” for the national team.
Spirits are high in the Moroccan national squad following a comfortable win against Sudan in their first World Cup qualifying match on Friday, September 3. While the national team swept aside its East African opponents, Ziyech was a notable omission from the national team.
The 28-year old winger, who currently plays in a limited capacity for Chelsea in London, was not called up for Morocco’s first world cup qualifier, and will not feature in the line-up against Guinea on Monday either.
Ziyech, arguably one of the biggest stars in the national team, appears to be in a rather public dispute with national team manager Vahid Halilhodzic. The coach claims Ziyech is not fulfilling his obligations in what is supposed to be a leadership role, given his age and stature.
“His behaviour in the last two matches, especially the last one, was not that of a national team player who as a leader in the team has to be a positive role model,” Halilhodzic told the press, following the win against Sudan. “He arrived late and after that, he even refused to work,” the manager amended.
The Bosnian manager stated that “for the first time in my coaching career, I have seen behaviour that disappoints me,” as he described his complaints against the star winger. Halilhodzic claims Ziyech pretended to have an injury, in order to avoid playing friendly matches for the Atlas Lions.
“The medical staff made several examinations and said he could play,” the manager stated, before adding “he then refused to warm up in the second half because he was disappointed to be a substitute.” Halilhodzic described Ziyech’ behavior as “unacceptable.”
On Friday, September 3, Ziyech appeared to respond to his coach’s accusations in a post on social media in which he stated “Next time when you speak SPEAK THE TRUTH THEN… !!!”
