Hervé Renard, the former head coach of Morocco’s national football team, has publicly acknowledged his part in the dispute with Hakim Ziyech that led to the player’s exclusion from the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations in Gabon.
In an interview on the “Africa Football Club” podcast by French media outlet L’Équipe, Renard explained that the fallout stemmed from a miscommunication and his own inflexibility.
“Ziyech suffered an injury with us on a Tuesday, then played for his club on Saturday. I didn’t handle it well and stubbornly stuck to my stance, regardless of whether I was right or wrong — at that time, it didn’t matter to me,” Renard said. “Today, I accept my share of the blame. I can’t operate in a constant environment of conflict.”
This rift led to Ziyech’s absence from the national team for a key tournament, sparking controversy at the time.
Renard also reflected on how the tension was eventually resolved, crediting Moroccan Football Federation President Fouzi Lekjaa for facilitating a private meeting between him and Ziyech in Amsterdam. “I listened to Hakim. Within five minutes, the issue was resolved. It was a crucial meeting — our communication has been strong ever since,” he remarked.
This renewed understanding between Renard and Ziyech ultimately paved the way for the player’s return to the national team, where he played an instrumental role in Morocco’s subsequent international successes.
