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Chelsea winger Hakim Ziyech has has reversed his decision to retire from the Moroccan national team, according to The Royal Moroccan Football Federation President Fouzi Lekjaa.
The 28-year-old, who has not played for the Atlas Lions since June 2021, announced his decision to quit international football last month after a falling-out with Morocco coach Vahid Halilhodzic.
Since featuring against Ghana and Burkina Faso last June, Ziyech has been involved in a war of words with Bosnian Halilhodzic regarding his availability for international duty.
"Hakim Ziyech will return to the Moroccan team, for the World Cup," Lekjaa told a Moroccan radio station as was quoted by Alaraby.
"The Moroccan team will honour the Moroccans, as it has good players with a great technical level," the president added.
"The Moroccan team is able to match the rhythm of major international teams, and the level with which the Moroccan U18 team appeared against Spain, France, and Italy in the Mediterranean Games is the best evidence of Morocco's ability to compete."
The former Ajax man missed all six group-stage fixtures in Morocco's World Cup qualifying campaign, and Halilhodzic criticised the player's commitment after Morocco, who are looking to qualify for a second successive World Cup, exited this year's Africa Cup of Nations in the quarter-finals without Ziyech.
The 28-year-old, who has not played for the Atlas Lions since June 2021, announced his decision to quit international football last month after a falling-out with Morocco coach Vahid Halilhodzic.
Since featuring against Ghana and Burkina Faso last June, Ziyech has been involved in a war of words with Bosnian Halilhodzic regarding his availability for international duty.
"Hakim Ziyech will return to the Moroccan team, for the World Cup," Lekjaa told a Moroccan radio station as was quoted by Alaraby.
"The Moroccan team will honour the Moroccans, as it has good players with a great technical level," the president added.
"The Moroccan team is able to match the rhythm of major international teams, and the level with which the Moroccan U18 team appeared against Spain, France, and Italy in the Mediterranean Games is the best evidence of Morocco's ability to compete."
The former Ajax man missed all six group-stage fixtures in Morocco's World Cup qualifying campaign, and Halilhodzic criticised the player's commitment after Morocco, who are looking to qualify for a second successive World Cup, exited this year's Africa Cup of Nations in the quarter-finals without Ziyech.