Morocco winger Hakim Ziyech says the Atlas Lions’ historic performance at the 2022 World Cup will remain in his memory forever.
The North African country became the first African side to play in the semifinal of the Mundial, which was hosted in Qatar.
Speaking from Al Duhail stadium, where the Atlas Lions created a legacy in African and Arab football, Ziyech said he and the Atlas Lions had a “lot of fun” here for one month.
“I still remember we had all the families over there and some journalists over there. Yeah, we had a lot of fun here with the guys, with the coaches, with everybody from the national team.”
He said the 2022 World Cup left “only great memories… we made history and it will always be memorized in your mind.. So it will always be in a good spot in your heart.”
Ziyech experienced several challenges with his former clubs, including Chelsea, where he spent several weeks on the bench.
His latest challenges were with Galatasaray. After a short stint with the Turkish side, the former Ajax forward joined Qatari side, Al Duhai, as a free agent in January.
“Galatasaray is over for me,” he said.
Ziyech appears to be enjoying the atmosphere in Qatar, noting that what he likes the most is that he feels peaceful and himself again.
“It feels good, really peaceful. I’ve been in some other places where it was pretty busy, and I mean the people… What’s important is that they leave you a bit alone.. You know and you can enjoy your life easily.. With not a lot of tension from other people,” the player said.
He added that it is important for him to feel free, as it allows him to perform at his best.
“The most important thing for me is that I really have a peaceful life around me.”
Ziyech’s goal is to become a champion and contribute to the club’s success.
Asked about his aspirations and goals with the club, he named becoming a champion as the most important priority for him.
“You know we have till the summer, and then the only thing that counts is being champion and putting them in the best place they belong,” he said, adding that he has been undergoing training to regain his fitness after spending too much time off the pitch.
