In his absence, Morocco was beaten in the quarter-finals of the CAN by Egypt (2-1).
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Moroccan international Hakim Ziyech, 28, in conflict with his coach Vahid Halilhodzic, announced that he would no longer play with the national team, reported on Tuesday, February 8, the Abu Dhabi Sports channel (interview in Arabic).
“I will not return to the national team. It is my final decision. It is quite clear to me, I am concentrating on my club”said the Chelsea attacking midfielder to the sports channel, on the eve of the semi-final of the Club World Cup which will oppose the Blues to the Saudis of Al Hilal in Abu Dhabi.
The Moroccan star, scrambled with Atlas Lions coach Vahid Halilhodzic, had not been called up for the African Cup of Nations (CAN), which ended on Sunday with Senegal’s victory against Egypt .
His statement comes a few days after the press conference of the Moroccan national team coach who justified the non-calling of the attacking midfielder to the CAN by his lack of discipline.
حكيم زياش: لن أعود للمنتخب المغربي وهذا هو قراري النهائي .. أشعر بالحزن بكل تأكيد ولكن تركيزي الكامل الآن مع مع #تشيلسي #المونديال_اليوم#أبوظبي_الرياضية 1 pic.twitter.com/HTTADYCkVG
— قناة أبوظبي الرياضية (@ADSportsTV) February 8, 2022
“I can’t call a player who can blow up the group, even if his name is Lionel Messi”Halilhodzic explained last Thursday during a press conference after the elimination of Moroccans in the quarter-finals of the CAN. “Aimé Jacquet, Didier Deschamps became world champions by dismissing the best players. I am not the first to do this”argued the Franco-Bosnian coach.