Morocco chief threatens to SACK manager over Hakim Ziyech row as he reveals plan to draw Chelsea star out of retirement
MOROCCO’S football chief has vowed to bring Hakim Ziyech back into the national side at all costs in time for the World Cup. And FA boss Fouzi Lekjaa threatened to SACK Atlas Lions coach Vahid Halilhodzic unless he recalls the Chelsea winger. Ziyech has won 40 caps, but announced his international retirement in February after […]
MOROCCO’S football chief has vowed to bring Hakim Ziyech back into the national side at all costs in time for the World Cup.
And FA boss Fouzi Lekjaa threatened to SACK Atlas Lions coach Vahid Halilhodzic unless he recalls the Chelsea winger.
Ziyech has won 40 caps, but announced his international retirement in February after falling out with Halilhodzic.
However Lekjaa has pledged to have the 29-year-old and Ajax defender Noussair Mazraoui back in the fold in time for November’s finals.
The FA president said, as reported by Dutch outlet NU: “There are problems that need to be solved.
“We will do so in order for Ziyech and Mazraoui to return to the national team.
Read More On Chelsea
“They are still Morocco players, and two of the best in the squad. No-one can dispute how good they are.
“Problems can always arise in any group of 50 people. We will resolve them in the best way, so that the national team becomes the pride of all Moroccans.
“Vahid has our support for now, but nothing is set in stone. You can’t say that he is untouchable or irreplaceable.
“When the time is right we will make a decision about him.”
Most read in Football
FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALS – BEST NEW CUSTOMER OFFERS
Bosnian Halilhodzic, 69, previously criticised Ziyech’s behaviour as “unacceptable.”
Morocco will face Belgium, Croatia and Canada in Qatar in November following last week’s World Cup draw.
Holland-born Ziyech has won the Champions League, UEFA Super Cup and Club World Cup since joining Chelsea from Ajax for £40million in 2020.