Attention is focused on Ziyech's return to Morocco before the "Chile friendly"

Attention will be focused on Chelsea's English winger Hakim Ziyech, who returns to the ranks of the Moroccan national team after a long absence, when his country faces Chile and Paraguay as part of the preparations for the "Atlas Lions" for the World Cup finals in Qatar.

Ziyech (29 years old) was one of the "unwelcome" elements by the former coach of the Atlas Lions, Vahid Halilhodzic, due to disagreements with him.

Halilhodzic had accused Ziyech of not being "trusted" and of "making trouble" in the team.

The Moroccan Federation appointed local Walid Rekraki, who quickly called Ziyech in his first official squad to play the two preparatory matches against Chile on Friday in Barcelona and Paraguay next Tuesday in Seville.

"Communicating with Ziyech was easy and I am satisfied because we did everything in our power to get him back, and he agreed to return," Rekraki said.

He added, "I spoke to him as a coach for the national team and explained to him that we need the best players and he is among them, and we cannot participate in the World Cup finals in the absence of a player of the value and quality of Ziyash."

He continued, "Zyach will give us the addition and he will come to fight. Ziyech loves his country and showed that from the beginning by preferring to defend the colors of the Moroccan national team like (Achraf) Hakimi and (Nasser) Mazraoui, unlike other players, and for me, the player who chooses his country I will help him, but with quality."

Ziyech, who has been absent from the national team since September 2021, participated in his team's training on Tuesday at the Mohammed V complex in Casablanca.

Morocco plays in the world finals in a group that includes Belgium, Croatia and Canada.

Follow our latest local and sports news and the latest political and economic developments via Google news