Morocco boss Halilhodzic happy with Ziyech's performances

Morocco head coach Vahid Halilhodzic says a place in the squad will always be open for any Moroccan player who delivers good performances, pointing out that he is happy with Chelsea star Hakim Ziyech's impressive form.

The Moroccan national team is preparing for an Africa Cup of Nations qualifying double-header against the Central African Republic on 13 and 17 November, with Halilhodzic having announced a 25-man squad for the two games.

The Bosnian coach said in a video press conference: "We have 50 players and we select the final squad according to several factors. Some players were not called up for various reasons such as sickness, injury, or lack of fitness."

"We recovered Soufiane Rahimi, he is a strong and diligent player whose performance was very good in the recent games. I am also happy with Hakim Ziyech's return to his form, he is a very important player with a charming left foot," he added.

The coach went on to speak about Ziyech's impact at his new club. "We have been following his positive impact with Chelsea," he said. "He played some games after recovering from his injury and I hope he doesn't suffer from fatigue."

Halilhodzic didn't forget to mention Sevilla's Munir El Haddadi, whose debut with the Atlas Lions has been halted due to some routine procedures that need to be completed, stating: "We shouldn't forget Munir El Haddadi, I am upbeat and waiting for him to be granted the green light to participate. There will be updates on his situation, as he has expressed his wild desire to defend Morocco's shirt. I am happy with that."