Rabat – Fouzi Lekjaa, the head of Morocco’s Football Federation (FRMF) has commented on the departure of the former head coach of the Moroccan national football team, Vahid Halilhodzic.
Morocco announced a consensual disengagement of contract between the FRMF and the coach on Thursday, citing “difference and divergent visions” between the two parties.
Lekjaa explained that one of the main reasons leading to the departure of the French-Bosnian coach was his tendency to exclude important players from the national squad.
The former coach frequently refused to call up some of the most key Moroccan football players, including international Hakim Ziyech.
The football player announced his retirement from the national team, citing tension with the head coach. Moroccan football player Noussair Mezraoui then announced the same decision before reconciling with the coach and rejoining the squad again in recent months.
Halilhodzic’s exclusion of key football players remained the most incredulous choice to Moroccan football fans and observers.
According to Lekjaa, the national team cannot exclude key football players who play with renowned football teams across the world.
“This has been the feelings’ of both fans and players,” who grew frustrated about the absence of football players that were part of the national squad during the past six or seven years.
Lekjaa also criticized Halilhodzic’ inability to strengthen the connection between football players and the technical team, as well as a lack of motivation to encourage the squad to do their best.
“This is the coach’s primary role,” Lekjaa argued, stressing that it was imperative to explain to the coach that Moroccans are “getting tired of his philosophy.”
The football official stressed that halilhodzic’s appointment as a head coach in 2019 took place when the football team was undergoing a “transitional period between generations” when many football players had retired.
Halilhodzic’s task was to rebuild a “strong competitive team” with the new players.
The FRMF chief outlined Morocco’s primary goals, including the squad’s qualification to the Africa Cup of Nations’ final.
“We have a year to prepare for this event,” the football official said.
Lekjaa acknowledged that Halilhodzic performed his tasks as coach in a “very acceptable manner,” but argued that he could do much better, particularly in the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations in 2021.
