Rabat: Moroccan National Football Federation has just sacked national team coach Vahid Halilhodzic. The unprecedented news has come as a bit of shock as the FIFA Men’s World Cup 2022 is just 102 days away.
The Franco-Bosnian was expected to be sacked after allegations of a fallout with Hakim Ziyech. Moreover, the country failed to qualify for the semifinals of the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations. As interesting as it gets, the experienced coach has now been fire thrice after helping a team reach the World Cup finals.
In an official statement, the Moroccan federation said: ‘Given the differences between the Royal Moroccan Football Federation and national coach Vahid Halilhodzic on the best way to prepare the national football team for the Qatar 2022 World Cup, the two parties decided to separate by mutual consent.’
The 69-year-old accused Ziyech of feigning injury while the latter was in Chelsea. The ex-Yugoslavian and French Footballer alleged that Ziyech was doing so to miss out mid-year friendly matches. Subsequently, Vahid left Ziyech out of the World Cup qualifying campaign and the Cup of Nations finals. However, the national outcry revolted against Halilhodzic for his unruly behaviour. Additionally, Federation President Fouzi Lekjaa was in support for Ziyech’s callback.
The current firing as said is not the first rodeo of Vahid Halilhodzic. Japanese Football sacked him for being brusque in 2018, after helping Japan qualify to the top 32. The Football association cited that there are miscommunications and also Vahid lost the trust of his players.
Before Japan, Vahid coached the Ivory Coast National Team in South Africa. He was dismissed after the team’s poor form in the Africa Cup of Nations held six months prior to the World cup. However, he coached Algeria to the World Cup at Brasil in 2014. Although, The Foxes did not qualify further.
The statement concludes on a note of hope and clairvoyance: “The Royal Moroccan Football Federation affirms that it will provide all means and capabilities to prepare the national team well in the horizon of its participation in the Qatar 2022 World Cup.” Walid Regragui, a former international for Morocco is the most probable replacement. His recent achievement includes leading Wydad Casablanca to victory at African Champions League.
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