Hakim Ziyech silence Morocco Netherlands World Cup

Morocco beat the Netherlands, qualified for the World Cup round of 16 and confirmed its new status on the international stage. But amid scenes of joy, congratulatory messages and tributes from everywhere, one absence caught the attention of many supporters: that of Hakim Ziyech.

On Bladi.net : Ziyech Posts Cryptic Message After Morocco’s World Cup Qualifier Win

The former playmaker of the Atlas Lions published no public message of support after the Moroccan victory against the Netherlands. A silence all the more notable because the fixture had particular resonance for him. Born in the Netherlands, having gone through Dutch youth selections before choosing Morocco, Ziyech remains one of the strongest symbols of this binational generation that changed the face of the national team.

His lack of reaction comes in an already sensitive context. Hakim Ziyech was not called up for this World Cup, while Morocco is experiencing a new major adventure without him. The player, central figure in the historic 2022 run, now sees the Atlas Lions advance with a rejuvenated, reshaped team driven by new momentum under Mohamed Ouahbi.

A silence that raises questions more than it condemns

Should we read resentment into it? The question exists, but remains difficult to answer. Ziyech said nothing publicly. He did not criticize the selection, did not attack the staff and did not comment on his absence. But in modern football, silence sometimes speaks as loudly as a message. Especially when it concerns a player so identified with Morocco, on such a significant evening, against a country of which he also holds nationality.

For many supporters, a simple word would have carried weight. A story, a photo, a flag, a sentence to greet the players. Nothing more. Morocco had just eliminated a great European nation, the Atlas Lions confirmed their world standing, and one of their most beloved former leaders remained silent.

This silence must not erase what Ziyech represented for Morocco. He wore the national shirt at major tournaments, participated in the 2022 epic and embodied, for several years, the pride of diaspora players who chose the Atlas Lions despite European solicitations. But it also shows that turning the page may be more difficult than it appears.

The Moroccan selection, meanwhile, moves forward. With Achraf Hakimi, Ismael Saibari, Brahim Diaz, Ayyoub Bouaddi and a new generation already established, Morocco proved against the Netherlands that it could win without certain historic leaders. Perhaps that is where Ziyech’s silence takes on its full significance: Morocco continues, and it does so without him.

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One reality remains: as long as Hakim Ziyech does not speak, no definitive conclusion can be drawn. But his absence of a message, after such a symbolic victory against the Netherlands, inevitably fuels questions. Simple discretion, personal distance, sporting disappointment or genuine resentment? For now, only silence answers.