Halilhodzic Refuses to Include Ziyech in World Cup Play-off Game

Fez – Morocco’s Bosnian coach Vahid Halilhodzic continues to refuse to call up Hakim Ziyech amid pressures for the coach to step down. Halilhodzic held a press conference today, February 3, at the Mohammed VI footballcomplex in Maamora.

He seemed firm in not calling up Hakim Ziyech to Morocco’s play-off game against the Democratic Republic of Congo for the 2022 Qatar World Cup.

Halilhodzic offered a combative statement when asked about a potential comeback for Hakim Ziyech in the Moroccan national squad after the team’s disappointing conclusion to the AFCON tournament.

“You want me to beg someone to join the national team?” he said, adding that he wants to “retain the group, the communal spirit.”

He went on to say that he can’t “summon someone who can blow up the team, even if it was Lionel Messi.” Halilhodzic is seemingly sticking to his position regarding the position of the Chelsea attacking midfielder.

The spark of tensions between the two originated from what Halilhodzic claims as Ziyech’s “unacceptable behavior.” The Bosnian coach said that the midfielder “refused to work.”

The Chelsea star took to social media to refute Halilhodzic’s “allegations,” saying “Next time when you speak SPEAK THE TRUTH THEN… !!!”

After breaking the curse of never making it to the round of 16 at CAF, the Atlas Lions did not succeed to qualify for the semi-qualifier game. Morocco’s national football team lost the game to Egypt 1-2.

Morocco’s Bosnian coach shared some insights about how his team lost to Egypt in the quarter-finals. “After this game, the team and staff were quite disappointed and frustrated,” he said.

“These last days have been challenging,” Halilhodzic stated, but he “remains optimistic for Moroccan football.”

“They would not be here today if only Nayef Aguerd had scored that one goal,” he said.

“We gave everything to achieve our aim and go as far as we could,” Halilhodzic added.

Ziyech was cast out of Morocco’s squad ahead of the team’s participation in the AFCON 2021 in Cameroon. Many in the Moroccan football fans felt perplexed and angered by Halilhodzic’s decision to leave out potential leaders Hakim Ziyech and Noussair Mazraoui.

Moroccans’ opinion after the elimination of the Atlas Lions from the cup appeared unified as they called for the dismissal of Halilhodzic as the national team’s coach.