Mustapha Hadji has launched a strong criticism of Sofyan Amrabat after the midfielder said he would not play for Morocco while Mohamed Ouahbi remained head coach.
Amrabat announced more than a month ago that he was stepping away from the national team, although he did not retire from international football. The decision has caused frustration among some Morocco supporters and has now drawn a furious response from former international Hadji.
Speaking to Kooora, the 1998 African Ballon d’Or winner questioned Amrabat’s authority to make his international future dependent on the head coach’s position.
“Who do you think you are? You are above neither the national team, nor the coach, nor the Moroccan flag,” Hadji said.
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 said no player should make their availability for their country conditional on the departure of a manager.
“You represent your country, not the coach. You must not demand his replacement, whether it is Ouahbi, Regragui or anyone else,” he said.
Hadji’s comments come with his brother, Youssouf, serving as an assistant to Ouahbi. That connection means he is thought to be closely informed about the situation behind the scenes.
Amrabat’s decision came after his role with Morocco changed significantly. He was given a reduced status at the 2026 World Cup, where the young Ayyoub Bouaddi was preferred to him.
Ouahbi had previously said Amrabat’s contribution to the national team deserved respect, but insisted that past service could not guarantee a player special treatment.
Amrabat subsequently challenged that interpretation, saying his decision was not simply the result of frustration over his playing time.
The midfielder had stated in early September that he would no longer answer Morocco’s call-ups for as long as Ouahbi remained in charge. He stopped short, however, of ending his international career.
The episode has disappointed a large section of Moroccan supporters, who viewed Amrabat’s stance as an ego-driven reaction that was difficult to reconcile with the demands of the team.
Hadji, though, was unequivocal in his central message: no player, regardless of their importance to Morocco, should consider themselves more significant than the Lions of the Atlas.
