Walid Regragui: “I have no problem with Ziyech… He has only played 20 minutes since last September”

For a week, the absence of Hakim Ziyech from the list announced by Walid Regragui for the next matches against Gabon and Lesotho raises lively debates, especially after the injury ofElias Akhomach and its replacement by Zakaria Aboukhlal.

A large section of the Moroccan public wondered if the Galatasaray player was paying the costs of his assertive positions on social networks, but the national coach brushed aside this version out of hand on Tuesday. Indeed, during the press conference held at the Mohammed VI Football complex, Walid Regragui declared that there was no need to argue about this situation: “I contacted Hakim. It’s surprising the controversies that can take place on this subject… I have to explain: Hakim’s situation is that he played 20 minutes after the September rally. He must recover his usual form and regain his best level. There is no problem, no controversy!”

For the national coach, competition is now tough in the selection and places are very expensive. The players will have to fight to get a place and there is no reason to believe that a player’s place is acquired regardless of his performance at club: “The team has changed today, the competition is tougher . This is why he is no longer automatically summoned and aligned as a starter. I give the example ofAguerdhe can also find himself on the bench and not play five games, if we find ourselves with a central defender playing at the highest level, in Dortmund or in another big club, he will also give up his place. The absence of Hakim Ziyech is therefore entirely due to the lack of playing time with Galatasaray. The player was injured with the national team last September, after matches against Gabon and Lesotho. He then missed the October rally (double confrontation against the Central African Republic).

Richardson gives way to Belahyane

Absent during the last two matches against the Central African Republic in October, Amir Richardson will still have to wait before playing minutes with the Lions of the Atlas. The news broke early Tuesday evening, while the national coach was preparing to hold a press conference at the Mohammed VI complex in Maâmora. The Royal Moroccan Football Federation announced on its official website that the Fiorentina midfielder suffered a leg injury during the first training session of the national team A in Rabat on Monday evening. . The identity of his successor was revealed by Hellas Verona, just before the FRMF press release: Reda Belahyane.

The 20-year-old, who played 11 matches in Serie A for two successful assists, will therefore join Regragui’s midline, made up of Sofyan Amrabat, Azzeddine Ounahi, Oussama Targhaline, Ismael Sibari and Bilal El Khannouss. Reda Belahyane was called up during the October international window, for the two matches against the Central African Republic in Oujda. Tuesday at the Mohammed VI complex, Walid Regragui spoke about Richardson’s absence: “I wanted to see Amir Richardson again who missed the previous training course and I planned to see him again in the next two meetings. He regained his starting place and I had to see his evolution with the selection. Unfortunately the injury deprived us of this opportunity and we had to replace him with Reda Belhayane.” Coincidence: Reda Belhayane and Amir Richardson crossed paths during the last day played in Serie A, last weekend. Richardson’s Fiorentina won 3-1.