Former Morocco captain Romain Saïss has spoken out about the training ground incident that led to a fallout between Noussair Mazraoui and former national team coach Vahid Halilhodžić.
Speaking on the Club des 5 podcast, Saïss described the moment: “We were in training. After a drill, Vahid told us to drink water. Mazraoui didn’t move. The coach told him again. Mazraoui replied, ‘Thanks, but I’m not thirsty.'”
Halilhodžić insisted. Mazraoui declined again, saying he had already drunk water. Under pressure, he picked up a bottle and mimed drinking. Halilhodžić realised and ordered him off the pitch.
The incident led to Mazraoui being dropped from several camps. He was later recalled after tensions eased.
Saïss has also revealed how tensions between Hakim Ziyech and Halilhodžić first erupted.
Halilhodžić had asked a staff member to call Ziyech in. The reply came back: Ziyech was having a massage. Halilhodžić felt insulted. He believed the player had ignored a direct order.
Saïss, who acted as go-between, joined a meeting with Ziyech, Halilhodžić and the President of The Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) Fouzi Lekjaa. Speaking French, he translated, though he admitted softening the wording to avoid escalation.
The situation seemed to calm. Ziyech even asked Saïss to travel with him to the next camp. Plans were made after a match in London.
Then came the squad list. Ziyech was left out. Halilhodžić held a press conference and criticised him publicly. “Ziyech’s behaviour does not fit the selection,” he told the press. “He doesn’t want to train, doesn’t want to play. He doesn’t take it seriously.”
Ziyech responded on a story on Instagram: “Speak the truth the next time you talk!” adding a clown emoji.
The current Qatar’s Al-Duhail playmaker later told close contacts: “Whatever this national coach does, whether he flies high or low, stands at my doorstep, wants to sleep in my attic or in my basement, I will not play for this national coach.”
Ziyech refused to return while Halilhodžić remained in charge. He rejoined the national squad for the friendlies ahead of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar after the coach was sacked in August 2022 and replaced by current head coach Walid Regragui.
