Team Vahid or Team Ziyech? Internet users have chosen their camp. The debate has been raging on social media since the Chelsea player’s announcement that he will no longer wear the Atlas Lions jersey since his incessant dispute with national team coach Vahid Halilhodzic.
Between Hakim Ziyech (40 selections, 17 goals) and the Moroccan selection, it’s time to say goodbye. The Chelsea member has been sidelined since qualifying for the 2022 World Cup and absent from the Africa Cup of Nations.
The last time Ziyech played for Morocco was last June in a friendly match against Burkina Faso, with that match being the starting point of his feud with the national team coach. Now, the 28-year-old midfielder has decided to put an end to his international career.
“I would not return to the selection. This is my final decision. It’s clear to me. I focus on my club now. I understand the supporters’ decision, I’m sorry for them.”he announced in a firm tone, at the microphone of Hesport.
A decision which is not due to chance, but pushed by Vahid Halilhodzic who has not stopped repeating how much he did not want the Moroccan star. “No one is above the Moroccan selection”he had declared on numerous occasions, not failing to tackle the one he accuses of haughty behavior.
“I won’t take Ziyech, I would like to have the best players possible, but he disrespected all Moroccans so it’s over”had dryly declared the Bosnian technician.
According to him, Hakim Ziyech is a troublemaker who could disrupt the group. “I will not select a player who can blow up a group. The player can even be called Lionel Messi. At home, it’s like that”he had outbid.
A statement that had marked the end of the Ziyech era under Vahid, and pushed the principal concerned to take the lead in announcing his departure.
A media release that had the effect of a bomb, especially on social networks where Internet users reacted strongly. On the one hand the pro-Ziyech who demand the departure of the coach with the hashtag “VahidOut”, and on the other the pro-Vahid who welcome his decision not to select the one who has “turned his back on a whole nation” .
Ziyech quarrels with Renard, quarrels with Vahid. At some point, it’s not just the fault of others… #Morocco pic.twitter.com/y13gcH4DQ1
— Nabil Djellit (@Nabil_djellit) February 8, 2022
Thank you Ziyech for putting Lekjaa in front of his responsibilities, the “Or Vahid or Me” was the only solution, respect Hakim.
— doni (@donilapute) February 8, 2022
🚨 Hakim Ziyech’s statement today does us no favors at all! And if we talk about the character of Vahid it’s also nonsense!! What’s happening in our National selection today is really shameful 🇲🇦!
— Izem Anass (@Izemanass) February 8, 2022
The big bad Vahid Halilhodzic who even gave the captain’s armband to Ziyech afterwards to show him that he had his full confidence
— Hanif Ben Berkane (@HanifBerkane) February 8, 2022
Retired who only listens to his head and he doesn’t give a damn about the people who ask for an African Cup that we have missed for years and there he is dismissing the players strong hakim ziyach hamdallah harit el aarabi taarabt mezraoui and he prefers of the disabled #VahidOUT pic.twitter.com/zoPVqJOShD
— Hicham Ayoubi (@HichamAyoubi152) February 9, 2022
Ziyech’s statement is an opportunity to make the @FRMFOFFICIAL
I hear here and there about the liabilities of Ziyech?
Who speaks of that of Vahid? Japan 🇯🇵? Ivory Coast 🇨🇮?
This coach is a source of conflict locked in his certainties.#VahidOut after DRC🇨🇩— Space⚽️club (@Spacefootclub) February 8, 2022
Ziyech a little capricious????Nabil dirar already explained it at the time “Houwa li mabrach iji” what more can I say? pic.twitter.com/1jvQr51NZA
— Verbal Kint (@mal_lmouk) February 8, 2022
I will surely never see Ziyech again with the Morocco shirt… pic.twitter.com/gujvoKpfWl
— FVPS (@zzcr22) February 8, 2022
For now, some supporters are calling on the president of the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF), Fouzi Lekjaâ to intervene to settle the conflict between the Moroccan and the Bosnian, as he did at the time with Hervé Renard.
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