FIFA calls Vahid Halilhodzic a ‘magician’ and praises him

“The magician Vahid Halilhodžić is preparing a new trick”, headlines FIFA in an article devoted to the coach of the Atlas Lions in the run-up to the 2022 World Cup in which she paints a glowing portrait of what she described as “one of the most outstanding coaches of his generation”.

In its article, FIFA shines the spotlight on the man who managed to qualify Morocco for the 2022 World Cup, the fourth qualification of his career with a different nation.

“Wherever he went, the Bosnian technician obtained excellent results”considers the international body which looks back on the rich career of the Franco-Bosnian technician, in particular his victory in the Moroccan championship and the CAF Champions League with Raja Casablanca, in 1997.

In selection, he made a very remarkable passage in 2011 at the head of the Algerian selection and leads the Fennecs to a fourth qualification for the big world meeting, with which he reaches the round of 16, to everyone’s surprise. He repeated the experience with Japan in 2015 and takes first place in his qualifying group for Russia 2018 but, three months before the start of the competition, he is thanked by his leaders.

Today, at 69, Vahid leads Morocco to its second consecutive qualification for the World Cup after that of 2018 during which the selection, led by Hervé Renard, came out the back door,

According to FIFA, ” Halilhodzic was able to form a young and ambitious group, by associating experienced professionals with the requirements of the very high level such as Yassine Bounou, Romain Saïss, Youssef En-Nesyri or Achraf Hakimi, and hopefuls in search of recognition, like ‘Azzedine Ounahi, Imran Louza, Zakaria Abuukhlal and Ryan Mmaee’.

“As for the objectives, the Moroccans make no secret of their ambition: they want to repeat the exploit of Mexico 1986. At the time, a memorable victory over Portugal allowed them to force the doors of the second phase. »adds the same source.

For his part, the Bosnian believes that ” HASToday, the best footballers are in Africa: Achraf Hakimi, Sadio Mané, Mohamed Salah… It may not be for this time but in ten or twelve years, an African team will win the World Cup”.

For the time being, the former FC Nantes player is continuing his preparations, with the hope of further improving his personal statistics, despite the pressure from supporters who are demanding the return of the stars banned from the selection, Hakim Ziyech, Noussair Mazraoui or even Abderrazak Hamdallah, as noted by FIFA.

This flattering article ends with a big question, that of the future of the Lions coach, a few months before the world competition, while rumors of his departure are flying everywhere, despite the denial of a member of the FRMF contacted by MoroccoLatestNews FR.

“The only question at the moment is whether he will still be in charge when the tournament starts in November. If the answer is yes, the Atlas Lions may need to be added to the list of teams to watch closely…”, concluded FIFA.