As a result of his exclusion from the AFCON squad, Hakim Ziyech has announced his severance from the Atlas Lions of Morocco. The Chelsea star man Hakim Ziyech missed out on the chance to represent Morocco in the Africa Cup of Nations throughout January, despite being one of Morocco best players. Ziyech was reported to have had a fallout with National teamcoach Vahid Halilhodzic as the latter was said to be unhappy with the player’s attitude at training and on matchdays, which led to the decision to leave him out of the squad. But Ziyech has come out to announce his retirement during his club preparation against Al Hilal in the FIFA Club World Cup. “I will not return to the national team. This is my final decision. Everything is clear to me. I focus on what I do, my club. (If he’s disappointed?) Sure, who wouldn’t? But in the end, it’s him who makes the decisions and that must be respected. It is clear to me and I will not return to the team. I understand them and I feel sorry for the fans,” he said. Despite being born and raised in the Netherlands, Ziyech had represented Morocco at international level since he was 15 due to his family roots. Morocco were knocked out of the 2021 AFCON competition in the quarter-final by Mohamed Salah’s Egypt, who lost to Senegal in the final.