Morocco Coach: Why I Won't Call Up Chelsea's Hakim Ziyech

Morocco head coach Vahid Halilhodžic has explained why he will no longer call up Chelsea star Hakim Ziyech.

Ziyech was left out of the squad for the Africa Cup of Nations, where the Moroccans were dumped out at the quarter-final stage by a Egypt.

Morocco face the Democratic Republic of Congo in the World Cup qualifying play-round, but Ziyech will play no part.

"The players I have selected are the best in the country," Halilhodzic told reporters, as per Goal.

"I don't select a player who can unbalance the group. Not even if his name is Lionel Messi. Ziyech's behaviour does not fit the selection. He doesn't want to train, doesn't want to play. He doesn't take it seriously. I'm not going to beg him to come back.

"After the [Afcon] tournament three years ago, he was the most criticised. He was booed. You mustn't forget that."

Ziyech last featured for Morocco in a 1-0 win friendly win over Burkina Faso in June 2021.

Hakim Ziyech (Morocco, snubbed Netherlands)

Achraf Hakimi (Morocco, snubbed Spain)

Kalidou Koulibaly (Senegal, snubbed France)

William Troost-Ekong (Nigeria, snubbed Netherlands)

Keita Balde (Senegal, snubbed Spain)

Ismael Bennacer (Algeria, snubbed France)

Ola Aina (Nigeria, snubbed England)

Medhi Benatia (Morocco, snubbed France)

Wahbi Khazri (Tunisia, snubbed France)

Adam Ounas (Algeria, snubbed France)

MBaye Niang (Senegal, snubbed France)

Sofiane Feghouli (Algeria, snubbed France)

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