Connect with us

Sports

Chelsea winger Hakim Ziyech has been included in Morocco’s squad for the World Cup in Qatar, two months after ending his 15-month exile from the national team

Published

on

306624076 794430618642156 7307447876558562835 n

The 29-year-old had announced his international retirement in February after falling out with former Atlas Lions boss Vahid Halilhodzic, who was dismissed in August.

But new coach Walid Regragui wasted little time in recalling Ziyech and started him in his first two games in charge, against Chile and Paraguay in September.

Fit-again West Ham defender Nayef Aguerd is also included in the squad alongside Paris Saint-Germain right-back Achraf Hakimi and Bayern Munich full-back Noussair Mazraoui.

However, Spain-born Munir El Haddadi, who battled a five-year international eligibility saga to play for the North Africans, has been overlooked.

The squad, which includes former Southampton forward Sofiane Boufal and Sevilla’s Youssef En-Nesyri, will be captained by ex-Wolves defender Romain Saiss.

Queens Park Rangers’ Ilias Chair is picked, but Adel Taarabt and Hatayaspor striker Ayoub El Kaabi, who scored five times in qualification, have been left out.

Watford midfielder Imran Louza and forward Tarik Tissoudali, who scored in both legs against DR Congo in Africa’s World Cup play-offs in March, had already been ruled out of the finals by injury.

Morocco have been drawn in Group F with Belgium, Canada and Croatia.

The North Africans face Georgia in a friendly in Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates on 17 November, and begin their World Cup campaign against 2018 runners-up Croatia on 23 November.

Ziyech has struggled for regular club games this season under departed Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel and new coach Graham Potter, but retains affections from the football authorities in Morocco.

Before his return to the Atlas Lions squad in September, he had not played since June 2021 after his war of words with Halilhodzic.

The Bosnian was fired after months of tension with the federation (RMFF) over player selection, particularly his frosty relationship with the forward and the non-selection of Mazraoui.

Halilhodzic accused Ziyech of feigning injury to skip mid-year friendly matches and left him out of the World Cup qualifying campaign and this year’s Africa Cup of Nations.

A month before parting ways with Halilhodzic, RMFF president Faouzi Lekjaa stated that Ziyech – who had refused to play under the then coach – was still available for selection.

The former Ajax man is now in line to feature at a second World Cup after appearing at the 2018 tournament.

Meanwhile, Getafe forward El Haddadi had seemed set to play at the World Cup four years after he was denied the chance to represent Morocco in Russia.

The 27-year-old, who was born in Madrid and has a Moroccan father, spent years trying in vain to play for the North Africans after initially being prevented from doing so because of a brief competitive appearance he made for Spain in 2014.

But the five-year saga finally came to an end in February 2021 as El Haddadi benefitted from a new rule change around international eligibility, which has earned him 11 appearances for the Atlas Lions.

However, El Haddadi has been restricted to just 226 minutes in La Liga for Getafe this season and remained on the bench for September’s friendlies, with Morocco fans campaigning for Al Ittihad striker Abderrazak Hamdallah, 31, to be called up instead.

Barring a late injury replacement, the player who began his career at Barcelona will have to wait to see if his ambition of playing at the global event will be fulfilled in 2026.

Morocco squad

Goalkeepers: Yassine Bounou (Sevilla), Munir El Kajoui (Al Wehda), Ahmed Reda Tagnaouti (Wydad Casablanca).

Defenders: Nayef Aguerd (West Ham United), Yahia Attiat Allah (Wydad Casablanca), Badr Benoun (Qatar SC), Achraf Dari (Stade Brest), Jawad El Yamiq (Real Valladolid), Achraf Hakimi (Paris Saint-Germain), Noussair Mazraoui (Bayern Munich), Romain Saiss (Besiktas).

Midfielders: Sofyan Amrabat (Fiorentina), Selim Amallah (Standard Liege), Bilal El Khannouss (Racing Genk), Yahya Jabrane (Wydad Casablanca), Azzedine Ounahi (Angers), Abdelhamid Sabiri (Sampdoria).

Forwards: Zakaria Aboukhlal (Toulouse), Soufiane Boufal (Angers), Ilias Chair (Queens Park Rangers), Walid Cheddira (Bari), Youssef En-Nesyri (Sevilla), Abde Ezzalzouli (Osasuna), Abderrazak Hamdallah (Al Ittihad), Amine Harit (Olympique Marseille), Hakim Ziyech (Chelsea).

Source : BBC News

Continue Reading

Sports

Dani Alves released after paying €1 million bail for rape conviction

Published

on

By

Sources had informed ESPN last week that Alves was considering alternative options to raise the €1m, including freeing up some of his assets and asking money due to him by the Spanish tax office. Alves paid the payment on Friday, according to Spanish news agency EFE, citing judicial sources. On Monday, the court verified receipt of Alves' bail money and indicated he would be released within hours. To be released, Alves must surrender his Brazilian and Spanish passports, pay bond, and not leave the country. He still has a home near Barcelona.

Former Brazil player Dani Alves was freed from prison on Monday after paying the €1 million ($1.08 million) bail necessary while awaiting the outcome of an appeal to his rape conviction, according to Reuters and Spanish court records.

On February 22, Catalonia’s top court convicted Alves of sexually assaulting a woman in a Barcelona nightclub in 2022 and sentenced him to 4½ years in jail. He was granted bail on Wednesday but stayed in prison for the rest of the week after failing to come up with the funds on time.

Alves, accompanied by his lawyer, left the Brians 2 jail northwest of Barcelona soon before 4:30 p.m. local time, wearing a grey jacket over a white turtleneck, according to a Reuters videographer.

Sources informed ESPN last week that Alves was considering alternative options to raise the €1m, including freeing up some of his assets and asking for money due to him by the Spanish tax office.

Alves paid the payment on Friday, according to Spanish news agency EFE, citing judicial sources. On Monday, the court verified receipt of Alves’ bail money and indicated he would be released within hours.

To be released, Alves must surrender his Brazilian and Spanish passports, pay bond, and not leave the country. He still has a home near Barcelona.

Alves is also prohibited from approaching or communicating with the victim within 1,000 metres (3,280 feet), and he is required to visit the courts once a week.

Ester García, the victim’s lawyer, criticised the decision to give Alves bail until his appeal, calling it “scandalous”.

“It is justice for the rich,” she stated.

Continue Reading

Sports

Ghana’s Evans Yamoah wins gold in men’s high jump at the African Games

Published

on

By

Despite facing great opposition from competitors like as South Africa's Mpho Benjamin and Hammouda Saad, Yamoah's outstanding performance catapulted him to victory, attracting viewers' attention and solidifying his image as a rising star in the world of athletics. Notably, this historic victory marks the first time Ghana has won gold in both the Men's and Women's High Jump events at the African Games, with Rose Yeboah successfully defending her Women's title. Ghana's athletics delegation has considerably contributed to the country's total medal tally in the Games, with Yamoah winning the gold medal and Joseph Paul Amoah winning the Men's 200m final.

Evans Yamoah Cadman created history in the 2023 African Games by winning the gold medal in the Men’s High Jump for Ghana, demonstrating his exceptional leaping abilities and culminating in an excellent performance in the continental arena.

Yamoah, along with fellow Ghanaians Ebenezer Gyimah and Kennedy Ocansey, exhibited exceptional talent, outperforming countless opponents to cement his place in Ghanaian and African sports history.

Throughout the competition, Yamoah had exceptional consistency, clearing nearly every height on his first try. Even at the difficult height of 2.16 metres, he persevered, finally succeeding on his second attempt. Surprisingly, he was the only participant to surpass the height of 2.23 metres, earning his well-deserved gold medal.

Despite facing great opposition from competitors like South Africa’s Mpho Benjamin and Hammouda Saad, Yamoah’s outstanding performance catapulted him to victory, attracting viewers’ attention and solidifying his image as a rising star in the world of athletics.

Notably, this historic victory marks the first time Ghana has won gold in both the Men’s and Women’s High Jump events at the African Games, with Rose Yeboah successfully defending her Women’s title.

Ghana’s athletics delegation has considerably contributed to the country’s total medal tally in the Games, with Yamoah winning the gold medal and Joseph Paul Amoah winning the Men’s 200m final.

Ghana’s excellent athletic performance has increased its medal count to 54, including 14 gold, 24 silver, and 17 bronze.

Continue Reading

Sports

2023 African Games: Joseph Paul Amoah wins gold in 200m

Published

on

By

Consider Emmanuel of Nigeria finished third, clocking 20.80 seconds. Amoah's compatriot, Ibrahim Fuseini, also displayed his abilities by finishing fourth in the extremely tough race.

Ghanaian sprinter Joseph Paul Amoah electrified the track after winning the gold medal in the men’s 200m final on Friday at the University of Ghana Stadium.

Amoah, who had previously won bronze at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, showed impressive form in both the heats and the semifinals, establishing himself as a strong contender for the final. With drive and skill, he executed a magnificent performance to win the coveted gold medal.

Amoah crossed the finish line in 20.70 seconds, securing first place on the podium. Following closely after was Cameroon’s Claude Emmanuel Itoungue Bogognie, who won silver in 20.74 seconds.

Consider Emmanuel of Nigeria finished third, clocking 20.80 seconds.

Amoah’s compatriot, Ibrahim Fuseini, also displayed his abilities by finishing fourth in the extremely tough race.

The victory in the men’s 200m follows Ghana’s earlier success in the day, when the women’s hockey team defeated Nigeria in the final. William Amponsah also added to Ghana’s medal count, winning a silver medal in the marathon event.

Joseph Paul Amoah’s amazing performance not only earned him a well-deserved gold medal, but it also cemented his reputation as one of Ghana’s top athletes on the world scene.

Continue Reading

Trending

Optimized by Optimole