Aged 28, Ziyech Retires From International Football

Currently in Abu Dhabi with Chelsea preparing for games in the FIFA Club World Cup, Hakim Ziyech has announced his international retirement. The midfielder had not played AFCON 2021 in Cameroon, due to petit spats with the technical bench.

It fell as a bombshell to the football fraternity this Tuesday, in particular to the fans of the national team of the Atlas Lions. While he was excluded from the Moroccan selection because of differences with his coach Vahid Halilhodzic, Hakim Ziyech announced his international withdrawal, stating. “I will not return to the national team. This is my final decision. Everything is clear to me. I focus on what I do, my club. (If he’s disappointed?) Sure, who wouldn’t? But as at now, it’s him (Vahid Halilhodzic, editor’s note) who makes the decisions. We must respect them. It is clear to me and I will not return to the selection. I understand them and I feel sorry for the supporters,” he said.

As a reminder, the attacking midfielder of the Chelsea was not selected to play AFCON 2021 that saw Morocco knocked out in the quarter finals by Egypt.

Recently, coach Vahid even said that Ziyech would not ply for the Atlas Lions while he is at the helm. “I cannot call up a player who can explode the group, even if his name is Lionel Messi,” said the Moroccan coach.

It remains to be seen whether Hakim Ziyech’s decision is final or whether he will reconsider his choice in the event of Halilhodzic’s departure. The former Ajax man played 40 games for the senior set up of the Atlas Lions, and scored 17 goals since his debut on October 9, 2015