By Our Correspondent

Chelsea Forward Hakim Ziyech has confirmed he will not be returning to the Moroccan National Team despite being included for pre-selection.

The 28-year-old has ruled out playing for his country again after the continued ‘misinformation’ about the winger’s commitment to his country.

Morocco will battle Democratic Republic of Congo, DRC in a double header 2022 World Cup play-off matches away on 25th March and at home on 29th.

Morocco’s national football coach Vahid Halilhodzic called up Chelsea midfielder Hakim Ziyech for the Atlas Lions’ upcoming world cup playoffs against DR Congo.

According to the president of the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) Faouzi Lekjaa, Halilhodzic has also called up Ajax defender Noussair Mazraoui and Barcelona’s winger Ezzalzouli Abdessamad to be part of the provisional squad.

“I can confirm that Ziyech, Mazraoui, and Abdessamad Ezzalzouli are pre-selected for the squad,” Lakjaa stated on MFM Radio on Sunday.

However, the Chelsea winger have disclosed that though he has been made aware that he would be selected in the provisional list, he will not be part of the team.

Ziyech, who broke his silence after Chelsea’s 1-0 win over Newcastle United on Sunday afternoon, was pre-selected, alongside Noussair Mazraoui, by Chairman of the Moroccan federation Fouzi Lekjaa.

He wrote on Instagram: “I love my country and playing for the Moroccan national football team has been the honour of my lifetime, so it is with great sadness that I must announce that although the FRMF President today confirmed that I will be pre-selected for the team, I won’t be returning to play for Morocco.

“I’m sorry to disappoint the fans, this was not an easy decision to make, but sadly I feel I have no other choice.

“Despite giving my all to the team over the past 6 years and supporting them my entire life, the leadership continue to release misinformation about me and my commitment to my country. Their actions have made it impossible for me to continue to be part of the team.

“I learned the news about the pre-selection at the same time as everyone else, so I’m releasing this statement to ensure that you hear the truth directly from me.

Hakim Ziyech was dropped from the Atlas Lions 2021 Africa Cup of Nations, AFCON squad in Cameroon prompting the 29 years old to announce his international retirement in February.