Belhanda demands explanation from Regragui over Morocco’s World Cup snub

Younes Belhanda says he still feels anger and bitterness towards Walid Regragui after being left out of Morocco’s squad for the 2022 World Cup.

The former Morocco international, who has 59 caps and now plays for Al-Sailiya in Qatar, was omitted from the squad that reached the semi-finals in Qatar. Morocco became the first African and Arab nation to reach the last four of the World Cup.

Belhanda, 36, said he remains unable to move on from the decision, particularly because Regragui did not explain why he had been left out.

“Even today, I still hold a grudge against Walid Regragui. I did not understand it,” Belhanda said on the Riolo Club programme, according to Spanish newspaper Marca on Friday.

“He did not even call me, absolutely nothing. It hurt me a lot and I still have not got over it.”

Hopes of a return

Belhanda said he had expected to return to the Morocco squad after Regragui replaced Vahid Halilhodzic as manager.

The pair had previously worked together and remained in regular contact, with Regragui having been part of Belhanda’s coaching staff. Belhanda had also gone two years without being selected for Morocco before receiving a call-up shortly before the World Cup.

“I had spent two years without being called up to the Morocco team, and my relationship with Walid Regragui was very close,” he said.

“He had been my assistant coach and we spoke often. Then he called me up for the national team just before the World Cup and gave me hope.”

Belhanda said the omission had affected him, even though it had not completely devastated him.

“It did not destroy me, but it certainly affected me,” he added.

However, he said the lack of communication after the final squad was announced had been more painful than the decision itself.

“On the day the squad was announced, I called him but he did not answer. I only wanted an explanation,” Belhanda said.

“Be a man and tell me, ‘Younes, I am making my decisions.’ I was not 15 years old; I was 32. I would have understood, and accepting it would have been easier.”

He added: “But there was not even one phone call, nothing. It hurt me a lot and I still have not got over it.”

Distance from Morocco’s achievement

Belhanda acknowledged that his disappointment affected the way he experienced Morocco’s historic run in Qatar.

He said his anger became so strong that he did not even follow the team’s matches during the tournament.

“I did not care and I was not even watching the games,” he said.

Belhanda also referred to the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final against Senegal, saying the way he watched that match showed how far his relationship with the Morocco team had changed.

“I watched the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final against Senegal, but I did not follow it in the way I usually watch Morocco matches,” he said.

“You can see how far that anger had gone.”