Herve Renard shocked by Hakim Ziyech's Morocco snub
- Published
Hakim Ziyech helped Dutch club Ajax to reach the final of the Europa League
Morocco coach Herve Renard says he is shocked by Hakim Ziyech's absence from the Atlas Lions camp.
They play the Netherlands in a friendly on Wednesday and Cameroon in an Africa Cup of Nations qualifier on 10 June.
The Ajax midfielder was handed a recall despite saying he would never play under Renard again.
"He deserved a call-up from Morocco based on his Europa League performances. But he's not here and I can't tell you why," Renard said.
"If you wish to know why he doesn't want to work with me, you will have to ask him directly. I am not going to talk about it in the media.
"I respect Hakim's decision to reject this latest call-up but I do believe he is making a very big mistake. The ball is now in his court."
The 24-year-old was surprisingly left out of Morocco's preliminary squad for this year's Africa Cup of Nations in Gabon.
He then rejected a late inclusion as replacement for the injured Younes Belhanda.
However Renard believes Ziyech , who scored 12 goals in 42 appearances this season and reached the Europa League final deserves another chance.
Last month Ziyech said: "As long as Herve Renard is there, I will be with my head elsewhere.
"He remains in charge of picking players of his choice. And I accept it. I know that a coach does not usually stay long. I'm waiting quietly (maybe he's leaving)."