The new coach of the Moroccan national team, Walid Regragui, has called on the services of Hakim Ziyech a few days before two preparatory matches for the World Cup 2022. The announcement came on Monday, September 12, 2022, when the current midfielder of Chelsea (England) did not appear in the national colors 16 months ago. Like Ziyech, midfielder Younes Belhanda and fullback Noussaïr Mazaroui, all of whom are on the outs with former Atlas Lions coach Vahid Halilhozic, have also been recalled to the squad.
Since June 2021 and a 1-0 victory in a friendly against Burkina Faso, exactly 16 months that the Moroccan prodigy Hakim Ziyech has not played in the national selection. His return favored by the new coach Walid Regragui, comes in a context where the Atlas Lions are in full preparation for two friendly matches, one against Chile and the other against Paraguay. These two matches which will be played respectively on September 23 in Barcelona and on September 27 in Seville, will allow a good warm-up of the Moroccans at two months of the World Cup Qatar 2022.
Ziyech, unwanted by Halilhozic but picked up by Regragui
The relationship between the 29-year-old midfielder and his former coach, Vahid Halilhodzic, was not very good. Ziyech unfortunately abandoned his teammates because he was not wanted. But it took the departure of Vahid Halilhodzic in August and the appointment of Walid Regragui for things to change. The former defender immediately recalled Ziyech, who had announced his international retirement last February. With his English first division club, FC Chelsea, he is as successful as ever.
In addition to Ziyech, two others are returning
The new coach of the national team, Walid Regragui, has not only called Hakim Zyech. Two other players, also in dispute with former coach Vahid Halilhodzic, are called to the selection. These are the midfielder Younes Belhanda and the lateral Noussaïr Mazraoui.
Three great players namely Nayef Aguerd, Adam Masina and Tarik Tissoudali, will not make the adventure of the two preparatory matches due to injuries.