Wahid: Morocco robbed me of the World Cup

Bosnian coach Vahid Halilhodzic broke his long silence, describing the end of his journey with the Moroccan national team as one of the harshest shocks in his professional career, during his official introduction as the new coach of the French club Nantes, in his first media appearance after a period of absence.

In a press conference held today, Friday, Halilhodzic confirmed that his dismissal from coaching the “Atlas Lions” before the start of the 2022 Qatar World Cup was a “terrible” and unfair moment, considering that the opportunity to be in the World Cup for the third time was “stolen” from him despite his success in leading the team and qualifying for the tournament with successive victories.

Wahid revealed the details of the dispute that toppled him, explaining that he rejected dictates that demanded the inclusion of certain players in the “World Cup” list, adhering to his technical decisions and the group he worked on. He added in a sharp tone: “I am different by nature. They ask me to be a diplomat, but I bear my full responsibilities, and this is what cost me my position.”

Regarding his new station in France, Halilhodzic confirmed that he came to Nantes to raise a great challenge and achieve an exceptional achievement, noting that he retracted the decision to “retire” that he had previously taken after the shock of the Moroccan national team, to return again to the fields with a spirit full of challenge despite the bitterness of his previous experiences.