Sofyan Amrabat has been sharply criticised by former Morocco international Mustapha Hadji after announcing he would not play for the national team while Mohamed Ouahbi remains head coach.
The Ajax Amsterdam midfielder said more than a month ago that he was stepping away from the Atlas Lions, although he did not retire from international football. His decision has since attracted strong criticism, with Hadji delivering a particularly forceful response in an interview with Kooora.
“Who do you think you are? You are not above the national team, the coach or the Moroccan flag,” said Hadji, the 1998 African Ballon d’Or winner.
He added: “You must come to the national team and play without protesting, even if you only play one minute, because it is an honour for you.”
Hadji also rejected the idea that any player should be able to make their international future dependent on a manager’s departure.
“You represent your country, not the coach,” he said. “You must not demand his replacement, whether it is Ouahbi, Regragui or anyone else.”
Hadji’s brother, Youssouf, is an assistant to Ouahbi, meaning he is likely to be closely informed about the situation behind the scenes.
Amrabat announced at the beginning of September that he would no longer respond to Morocco call-ups for as long as Ouahbi remained in charge. However, he stopped short of ending his international career.
His position within the squad had changed considerably after he was given a reduced role at the 2026 World Cup, where the young Ayyoub Bouaddi was selected ahead of him.
Ouahbi subsequently said that Amrabat’s service to the national team deserved respect, but did not guarantee him any special treatment. Amrabat later disputed that interpretation, insisting his decision was not simply a response to frustration over his playing time.
The midfielder’s stance had already disappointed many Morocco supporters, who viewed it as an ego-driven reaction that was difficult to reconcile with the demands of the collective, according to the source article.
Hadji’s argument leaves no room for compromise: regardless of a player’s importance, no individual should place themselves above the Atlas Lions.
The former Morocco star’s comments represent the latest criticism of Amrabat’s decision to withdraw from selection while Ouahbi remains coach. Although Amrabat has not announced his retirement, his return to the national team is currently tied to a change in the coaching position.