World, Ziyech and death threats: Halilhodzic empties his bag after the elimination of Morocco

Vahid Halilhodzic is not the type to cut corners. Under pressure after Morocco’s elimination from the African Cup of Nations, the Moroccan coach said to himself “ready to go“if he fails to qualify the Atlas Lions for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.”My first goal is to qualify my team and if I can’t do that, I can leave.“, assured Halilhodzic Thursday, during a press conference, which lasted two and a half hours. “I can leave now if you want, I have no pressure to leave or not. I’ve already left in the past. Let me continue to do my best to go to the World Cup. That’s my goal !“, he pleaded.

The Atlas Lions must face DR Congo in the play-offs next month to qualify for the World Cup next November-December. Morocco was eliminated in the quarter-finals of the CAN on Sunday by Egypt (1-2) after a rough match which continued in the corridors leading to the locker room. “The Egyptians were smarter, more vicious, but brawlers, it’s not worthy in my opinion“, lamented Halilhodzic, who said to himself “appalled“by the behavior of some Pharaohs players.

Ziyech could ‘blow up the group’

On Wednesday, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) suspended several Egyptian and Moroccan players and managers for a “general fight” after the match. “I saw a lot of people screaming, there were insults. We have appealed (CAF sanctions)“, said the coach of Morocco, attributing the defeat of his team to a “lack of experience“. The coach also said he received “death threats” after the failure of the Lions which he relativized: “I’m used to it as a coach, but I also get encouragement, it makes me feel good“.

Pressed with questions by journalists, Halilhodzic justified his choice not to select Chelsea attacking midfielder Hakim Ziyech, with whom he is at odds, in the national eleven, accusing him of a lack of respect. “I can’t summon a player who can blow up the squad, even if his name is Lionel Messi“, he argued. “Aimé Jacquet, Didier Deschamps became world champions by dismissing the best players. I’m not the first to do this“, concluded the coach.