Chelsea midfielder Hakim Ziyech has announced his retirement from international football following his Africa Cup of Nations snub by the Morocco national team.
The 28-year-old last played for the Atlas Lions in June of 2020 missing his country’s World Cup qualifiers and missing the AFCON over a fallout with head coach Vahid Halilhodzic.
Ziyech has now confirmed his retirement, stating that he will not return to the Morocco national team and has made himself unavailable for the foreseeable future.
“I understand them, but I will not return to the Moroccan national team and this is my final decision,” Ziyech told ADSportsTV.
“It’s all clear for me how things are going over there and I am focusing on what I am doing and, right now, that is my club.
“At the end of the day, it’s a decision he makes and you have to respect it. All the lying that comes with it, it’s, for me, clear and I will not return to the national team.
“I understand and feel sorry for [the fans], but that’s the situation we’re in.”
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Ziyech was heavily criticised by the Morocco head coach last June after a friendly against Burkina Faso.
“His behaviour in the last two matches, especially the last one, was not that of a national team player who, as a leader in the team, must be a positive role model,” Halihodzic said.
“He arrived late and after that, he even refused to work. There was no point in discussing it afterwards, as a coach the answer is right there to see.”
Subsequently, Ziyech missed all six group-stage fixtures in Morocco’s World Cup qualifying campaign. He was also not called up for the Africa Cup of Nations.
Halihodzic reiterated his assessment of the player in recent weeks, stating that Ziyech’s attitude was unacceptable.
“For me, the national team is above everything, nobody can hold it hostage.
“A player who refuses to play a game, admittedly a friendly, on the pretext that he is injured. The medical staff made several examinations and said he could play.
“He then refused to warm up in the second half because he was disappointed to be a substitute.
“For me, that type of behaviour is unacceptable. You can’t cheat with the national team. You are 100 per cent there or you are not. I won’t tolerate it.”
Ziyech was born in the Netherlands and represented them at youth level but switched allegiance to Morocco in 2015.
He has 40 caps for the Atlas Lions and has scored 17 goals.
Ziyech is currently with Chelsea in Abu Dhabi as they prepare for their Club World Cup semi-final fixture against Al-Hilal on Wednesday.
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