Rabat — Moroccan international Hakim Ziyech was visibly angry yesterday following his substitution during Al-Duhail’s Qatar Cup semi-final match against Al-Gharafa. The Moroccan star couldn’t hide his displeasure when coach Christophe Galtier replaced him with Ismail Mohamed in the 71st minute.
Video footage circulating on social media shows the Moroccan international player storming off the pitch with wrinkled brows, muttering words of protest while raising his hand in frustration.
Ziyech’s anger didn’t stop there — he kicked water bottles twice before a teammate on the bench attempted to calm him down.
This outburst comes as no surprise to those familiar with Ziyech’s temperament. His move to Qatar reportedly stems partly from similar incidents during his time at Galatasaray, where coach Okan Buruk reportedly benched him for comparable behavior, according to Turkish media.
The “magician” has a history of such conflicts, notably with former Morocco coach Vahid Halilhodzic. The two had a longstanding conflict that led the former coach to shock fans by excluding Ziyech from the national team for months despite his vital role and contribution to the squad’s performance.
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Despite these behavioral issues, Ziyech remains one of Morocco’s most talented players, scoring 25 goals in 64 appearances for the Atlas Lions. However, current national team coach Walid Regragui hasn’t called him up since October 2024.
During a press conference earlier this month, Regragui said that he can call up the Moroccan winger when he is back to his best.
The Moroccan coach described Ziyech as “a great player with real talent” who contributed a lot to the national team.
“Now he’s started the last two games and is getting back to form,” Regragui added. “When he’s ready, we’ll call him back because he’s an important player for us.”
Al-Duhail managed to advance to the Qatar Cup final after winning 4-3 on penalties, but Ziyech’s latest outburst could impact his standing with the club for the remainder of the season.
