• Football
  • Boxing
  • UFC
  • Home
  • Football
    • England
    • Transfer News
    • Premier League
    • Champions League
    • Lionel Messi
    • Cristiano Ronaldo
    • EA FC 25
    • Wrexham
  • Boxing
    • Tyson Fury
    • Anthony Joshua
    • Oleksandr Usyk
    • Mike Tyson
    • Jake Paul
    • Logan Paul
  • UFC
    • Dana White
    • Conor McGregor
    • Khabib Nurmagomedov
    • Jon Jones
    • Paddy Pimblett
    • Joe Rogan
  • Other Sport
    • Athletics
    • Formula 1
    • MMA
    • Motorsport
    • NBA
    • Darts
    • NFL
    • Snooker
    • Wrestling
    • Tennis
    • Cricket
    • Golf
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • LADbible
  • UNILAD
  • GAMINGbible
  • Tyla
  • UNILAD Tech
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
Snapchat
TikTok
YouTube
Chelsea Winger Hakim Ziyech Gives Defiant Response To Being Left Out Of Morocco's AFCON Squad

Home> Football

Updated 09:56 6 Jan 2022 GMTPublished 09:55 6 Jan 2022 GMT

Chelsea Winger Hakim Ziyech Gives Defiant Response To Being Left Out Of Morocco's AFCON Squad

Ziyech has not played for Morocco since July after falling out with head coach Vahid Halihodzic.

Rory O'Callaghan

Rory O'Callaghan

Chelsea winger Hakim Ziyech insists he doesn’t care about being left out of Morocco’s squad for the Africa Cup of Nations.

Ziyech, 28, is one of Morocco’s most high-profile players but was not called up for the tournament, which will be staged in Cameroon from January 9 to February 6.

The former Ajax winger has not featured for the national side since a friendly against Burkina Faso in July after being dropped by head coach Vahid Halihodzic.

Ziyech produced an impressive performance against Tottenham on Wednesday (Image: Alamy)
Ziyech produced an impressive performance against Tottenham on Wednesday (Image: Alamy)

Halihodzic has accused Ziyech of feigning injury to avoid playing in a friendly against Ghana in June.

When asked about his omission from Morocco’s latest squad, Ziyech issued a defiant response.

“I’m doing my job and trying to perform as best as I can,” he told beIN SPORTS.

“All the other stuff that’s going around outside of football it is not really important at the moment.

“At this point I don’t really care to be honest.”

Ziyech’s availability this winter comes as an unexpected boost to his club side Chelsea.

The winger produced a man-of-the-match performance on Wednesday night as the Blues beat rivals Tottenham 2-0 in the first leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final at Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea striker Romelu Lukaku returned to the side for the first time since his controversial interview with Sky Sport Italia.

Lukaku released an apology to Chelsea fans on Tuesday after claiming he was “unhappy” with his role at Stamford Bridge, and Ziyech believes the matter is now resolved.

Ziyech has not played for Morocco since July (Image: Alamy)
Ziyech has not played for Morocco since July (Image: Alamy)

“He had his interview and I think it’s better to leave it that way,” added Ziyech.

“We as players and team-mates have to support him after what happened. He is part of us.

“We have to keep pushing him and support him. Let’s keep it behind us and focus on what’s coming.”

Morocco, meanwhile, begin their Africa Cup of Nations campaign against Ghana on January 10.

The Atlas Lions will then face Comoros on January 14 before their final group game against Gabon on January 18.

Featured Image Credit: Alamy

Topics: Hakim Ziyech, Chelsea, Football, Africa Cup Of Nations

Rory O'Callaghan
Rory O'Callaghan

Rory O'Callaghan is Editorial Lead at SPORTbible. He has previously worked for Sky Sports News, MailOnline and Reach covering football, cricket, boxing and MMA. Tested daily as a Liverpool fan in a Manchester office.

X

@rory_ocallaghan

Choose your content:

8 mins ago
9 hours ago
12 hours ago
13 hours ago
  • 8 mins ago

    Evangelos Marinakis' immediate reaction to Morgan Gibbs-White transfer saga emerges as Nottingham Forest consider legal action

    Nottingham Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis is unhappy with Tottenham's pursuit of Morgan Gibbs-White.

    Football
  • 9 hours ago

    FIFA has banned five football kits for life that you'll never see again

    Club World Cup finalists Chelsea and PSG have been hit by FIFA’s ban on sleeve advertising rule

    Football
  • 12 hours ago

    Xabi Alonso has found the next Florian Wirtz for Real Madrid without spending anything

    The new Real Madrid boss may have uncovered a gem in the squad who could be the next Florian Wirtz.

    Football
  • 13 hours ago

    Chelsea set their asking price for Nicolas Jackson as shock club register interest and it looks like a typo

    Enzo Maresca has named his price to sell Nicolas Jackson this summer, amid links to a European giant.

    Football