A few months before the 2022 World Cup which will take place in Qatar, the Royal Moroccan Football Federation faces a major dilemma, opposing its desire to find the star players banned from the selection like Noussair Mazraoui and Hakim Ziyech and that of keeping Vahid Halilhodzic, which led them to a second consecutive qualification at the World Cup. However, the conflict, for the moment irreconcilable between the two parties, puts the FRMF in a delicate position.
Favor certain players or favor the coach? This is the thorny choice facing the Royal Moroccan Football Federation, while Moroccan fans are calling for the return of certain players such as Noussair Mazraoui and Hakim Ziyech.
Only problem, the return of the aforementioned players will only be done if the coach packs up, unless the Moroccan body manages to reconcile the two parties.
Torn between a coach who has managed to fulfill one of the objectives set by Fouzi Lekjaa, president of the FRMF and talented players who shine in their clubs, the FRMF has planned a decisive meeting to be held in two weeks between the Bosnian technician and the FRMF, where the return of said players will be seriously discussed, and will determine Vahid’s future as head of the Atlas lions.
Vahid VS Ziyech/Mazraoui
Eighteen (18) wins, 7 draws, 2 losses, one elimination in the CAN quarter-finals and one qualification for the World Cup-2022. On paper, Vahid Halilhodzic’s record at the head of Morocco is more than honorable.
Arrived in the summer of 2019 to succeed Hervé Renard, the former coach of FC Nantes was able to achieve the main objective set by the federation: to qualify for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. But in Morocco, not everything is so simple.
Despite this, his presence on the bench of the Atlas Lions is often disputed and rumors of his departure, although denied by the FRMF, continues to feed the national and international press. The main reason? His conflict with Ziyech and Mazraoui.
For more than a year now, the absence of the two players in selection, for disciplinary problems, animates the debates and provokes the anger of the supporters who demand their return.
Even to the point of gently but surely pushing Halilhodzic towards the exit. Called during the last rally, the two players declined the summons and refused to wear the Morocco jersey, probably until Halilhodzic left.
Internally, it is impossible to imagine going to the World Cup without the Ajax and Chelsea player, but also without Vahi Halilhodzic who managed to form a strong and homogeneous group, forging strong bonds with his players.
Mission reconciliation
Fouzi Lekjaa is committed to ending the internal crisis of the Moroccan team before the 2022 World Cup. He stressed the importance of overcoming differences before the 2022 World Cup, which will take place in November in Qatar.
“Everyone’s goal is to prepare well for the Qatar 2022 World Cup”said the president of the FRMF, stressing that the door of the national team is “open to all Moroccan players« .
“No one can prevent a Moroccan player from playing for the national team, whether it’s Ziyech or anyone else,” he added, opening the door to the return of the flagship player of Mountakhab.
The FRMF president said the time had come to overcome all differences by having a meeting with Halilhodzic at the end of this month following he returned from vacation.
The purpose of the meeting will be “to establish a clear roadmap for a good preparation of future competitions, in particular the qualifiers for the African Cup of Nations and the World Cup”.
He recalled that the national team went through a difficult transition phase, but still managed to qualify for the World Cup and the previous Africa Cup of Nations which was held in Cameroon.
Despite qualifying for the 2022 World Cup, Vahid Halilhodzic has been criticized for his tactical choices and the composition of the team, which fuels rumors of departure a few months before the tournament. He is “currently the coach of the national team”assured the president of the FRMF, qualifying ” normal “ the relationship between the two men. “But only God knows what the future will hold”he added.
As a reminder, Morocco is housed in group F with Belgium, Croatia and Canada. Morocco will face in its first match Croatia, vice-world champion in title (Russia-2018), before playing once morest Belgium then Canada, during the Football World Cup organized in Qatar from November 21 to November 18. December 2022.
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