RABAT: Morocco鈥檚 national team would still welcome Chelsea attacker Hakim Ziyech, the head of its football federation said Wednesday, despite a dispute with the national coach before the kingdom qualified for the 2022 World Cup.
鈥淭he doors of the national team are open to all Moroccan players, regardless of their differences,鈥� Fouzi Lekjaa said during a federation board meeting.
Ziyech had in February ruled himself out of playing for his country again after coach Vahid Halilhodzic omitted the 28-year-old for an Africa Cup of Nations game, reproaching him for indiscipline.
But Lekjaa said Wednesday that 鈥渘obody can stop a Moroccan player playing for the national team, whether it鈥檚 Ziyech, (right back Noussair) Mazraoui or anyone else.鈥�
He said he would discuss this 鈥減ersonal conviction鈥� with Halilhodzic on the coach鈥檚 return from holidays later this month.
Halilhodzic, a former Nantes and Paris Saint-Germain player, had said that Ziyech 鈥渓acks respect鈥� and could 鈥渂low up the team.鈥�
Despite leading the team to qualifying for next year鈥檚 World Cup in Qatar, Halilhodzic has been criticized in Morocco for his strategic choices and rumors have circulated of his possible departure.
Lekjaa said Wednesday that the Bosnian-French 69-year-old 鈥渋s currently the trainer of the national team... but only God knows what the future holds.鈥�
Morocco qualified for the World Cup last month after strolling through a play-off against the Democratic Republic of Congo.
In Qatar it will face Croatia, Belgium and Canada in Group F.