Chelsea star Ziyech ‘will not return’ for Morocco following bust-up

Lewis Oldham
Chelsea attacker Ziyech

Chelsea attacker Hakim Ziyech has announced that he does not plan to play for Morocco again following his bust-up with Vahid Halilhodzic.

The 28-year-old has been capped 40 times for Morocco since 2015. He has scored 17 times for his country.

Ziyech was not included in Morocco’s squad for the African Cup of Nations, which concluded on Sunday evening.


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Speaking in September, Morocco boss Halilhodzic claimed that Ziyech “refused to work” when he was last part of the squad.

Without Ziyech, the Atlas Lions were knocked out of the AFCON in the quarter-finals by Mohamed Salah’s Egypt.

Ziyech has now announced that he is now concentrating on performing well for Chelsea:

“I will not return to the national team, and this is my final decision,” Ziyech said (via BBC Sport).

“I am focussing on what I am doing with my club.

“Everyone has seen what happened in the last period.

“I am sad but this is my final decision.

“The coach of the national team made his decision, and in any case I respect it. My focus now, as I said, is only on Chelsea.”

Elsewhere, Chelsea captain Cesar Azpilicueta has urged his team to make history by claiming a maiden Club World Cup title in Abu Dhabi:

“It is very difficult to win this kind of tournament,” said Azpilicueta.

“I think after 10 years I realise how difficult it is. We lost the final against Corinthians (in 2012) and maybe I had a different feeling.

“It was my first season, we were in every competition, and maybe it looked easier than it was.

“In time you realise how difficult it is. First of all you have to qualify for the Champions League, then go all the way and win that, just to be here. So we have to make the most of it.

“Losing in 2012 hurt a lot and this is the only competition the club hasn’t won. To win it for the first time for the club would be huge. We have to give everything we have on the pitch. It has great meaning for everybody, and we are representing Europe.”