Hakim Ziyech laid his brother to rest on Monday in Berkane, where family members, neighbours and figures from Moroccan sport came together to mourn the passing of Issam Ziyech.
The funeral took place shortly after the Addohr prayer in the town that the family has long called home.
In a scene marked by quiet dignity and visible grief, the cortege made its way to Douar Qnin, in the commune of Tafoughalt, where Issam Ziyech was buried in the presence of relatives, close friends, residents of the area and several well-known sporting personalities.
Prayers were first held at the village mosque, where those in attendance formed long lines in a show of solidarity with the bereaved family.
Among the notable figures present was Hicham Aït Menna, the president of Wydad Casablanca, who joined the mourners to pay his respects.
The atmosphere throughout the ceremony was one of deep sadness, reflecting both the shock of the loss and the affection in which the Ziyech family is held locally.
Many residents of Berkane and the surrounding villages have followed Hakim Ziyech’s career closely over the years and were keen to stand alongside his family at this difficult moment.
The Moroccan international was informed of his brother’s death last Tuesday.
Wydad Casablanca announced the news in a statement, offering condolences and expressing “its sincere feelings of compassion” to the player and his relatives.
The club’s message was widely shared across Moroccan media and social networks, prompting an outpouring of sympathy from supporters and fellow professionals.
Monday’s burial provided an opportunity for that collective grief to be channelled into a more personal tribute.
For those who travelled to Douar Qnin, the journey was as much about supporting Hakim Ziyech as it was about honouring Issam’s memory.
Local elders spoke quietly among themselves, while younger mourners stood in silence, heads bowed, as the coffin was lowered into the ground.
In Tafoughalt, where the Ziyech family has deep roots, the loss has been felt particularly keenly.
Shopkeepers closed their doors for the duration of the prayers, and traffic slowed around the mosque as people paused to acknowledge the funeral procession.
It was a reminder of how closely knit the community remains, even as one of its most famous sons has built a career far beyond the borders of the region.
Although Hakim Ziyech himself has spent much of his professional life abroad, his ties to Berkane have never faded.
The presence of senior figures such as Hicham Aït Menna, alongside ordinary residents, underlined the breadth of support surrounding the family.
As the sun dipped behind the hills of Tafoughalt and the last prayers were said, the mourners gradually dispersed, leaving the family to grieve in private.
The burial of Issam Ziyech closed a painful chapter for those closest to him, but the gathering in Berkane also demonstrated the strength of communal bonds in times of sorrow.
For Hakim Ziyech, the days ahead will be shaped by loss, but Monday’s ceremony showed that he does not face it alone.
