Mustapha Hadji says Sofyan Amrabat cannot make Morocco coach a condition for returning

Mustapha Hadji has criticised Sofyan Amrabat over his dispute with Morocco manager Mohamed Ouahbi, insisting that representing the national team is an honour that must come before any disagreement.

Amrabat announced in September that he would suspend his international involvement and would not be available for Morocco while Ouahbi remained in charge of the Atlas Lions. He stressed, however, that he had not retired from international football.

Ouahbi later said Amrabat’s comments were linked to his limited playing time for Morocco. The manager also argued that the midfielder could not expect more minutes for the national side while he was not playing regularly for his club.

Speaking in a filmed interview with Kooora, which will be published later, former Morocco international Hadji said Amrabat’s responsibility was to the country rather than to the manager.

“Amrabat plays for the Morocco national team, which represents the country and carries its flag. He does not play for Mohamed Ouahbi, so he must play under any coach,” Hadji said.

Morocco are listed to face Niger in Africa Cup of Nations qualifying on 13 November 2026.

‘Representing Morocco is a great honour’

Hadji also responded to Amrabat’s later insistence that his disagreement with Ouahbi was not fundamentally about his lack of involvement with the national team.

The former Morocco winger said the team’s interests had to remain more important than any individual dispute.

“Representing the Morocco national team is a great honour. To be given the chance to raise the Moroccan flag among 40 million Moroccans is something significant, and it must stand above any problem,” he said.

Hadji also backed Ouahbi’s argument that a player’s previous achievements should not guarantee a regular place in the starting XI.

“Your history earns you respect, but it does not give you privileges to remain in the starting line-up,” Ouahbi said in comments cited by Hadji.

Hadji acknowledged Amrabat’s contribution to Morocco but rejected the idea that it entitled him to demand a managerial change before returning.

“With full respect for everything Amrabat has done with the national team, that does not give him the right to say that a coach must leave for me to join the team,” Hadji said.

He then delivered a stronger message to the midfielder.

“Who are you to say that? You are not above the national team, the coach or the Moroccan flag. You must come to the national team and play quietly, even if you only play for one minute, because it is an honour for you,” he added.