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Ya Biladi
14-04-2025
- Sport
- Ya Biladi
Saïss explains Bounou's last-minute withdrawal from 2022 World Cup match against Belgium
Just minutes before Morocco's national team faced Belgium during the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, goalkeeper Yassine Bounou was unexpectedly replaced by fellow keeper Munir El Mohamedi El Kajoui—a last-minute decision that left many fans puzzled. Three years after that match, Romain Ghanem Saïss, who captained the Moroccan team during the tournament, shared the behind-the-scenes details of the sudden change during an appearance on the French podcast Le Club des 5. «That day, Yassine came up to me and said he wasn't feeling well, even before we stepped onto the pitch», recalled Saïss, who now plays for Al Sadd in Qatar. «He said, 'I'm not feeling good, my head is spinning'. Right there in the corridor before we walked out». Saïss qui raconte le cas Bono lors du Mondial Magique ? Via @LeClubDes_5 — SOCCER212 (@SCCR_212) April 13, 2025 «I told him, 'Wait, let's talk to the doctor.' I asked, 'Are you okay? Are you sure?' And he said, 'No, honestly, I'm not well. My head is spinning'», Saïss added. Bounou then informed the referee that he wasn't in condition to play. During the national anthems, he could still be seen standing next to Saïss, visibly unsteady. «When we moved to the side, I said, 'Call the coach and the doctor. Let them know Yassine's not doing well.' I thought, this is over—I had to hold him a little because he was dizzy», Saïss said. That's how Munir ended up in the team photo while Bounou appeared only in the pre-match anthem footage, Saïss explained. Bounou later explained that it was a painkilling injection that caused him to miss the match, despite having lined up with the team minutes before kickoff. His disappearance initially confused commentators, who took a moment to realize he had been replaced by Munir.
Ya Biladi
12-04-2025
- Sport
- Ya Biladi
Romain Saïss opens up about tensions between Hakim Ziyech and Vahid Halilhodžić
The French podcast « Le Club des 5 » hosted Moroccan international Romain Saïss, who currently plays for Al Sadd in Qatar. During the interview, he discussed his football career and highlighted key moments from the national team's journey in the Africa Cup of Nations and the recent World Cup in Qatar. Saïss reflected on the period when Bosnian coach Vahid Halilhodžić was in charge of the Moroccan national team, a time marked by significant tensions with the media and several players, most notably Hakim Ziyech. Saïss revealed that the conflict between Ziyech and Halilhodžić began during a national team training camp, shortly after Chelsea won the UEFA Champions League. He explained that Ziyech arrived at the camp exhausted and went to the physiotherapy room for a massage session. At that moment, Halilhodžić called out to him, asking him to join, but Ziyech replied, «I won't come now, as you can see, I'm getting a massage… I'll finish up and then join». This response did not sit well with the coach, prompting him to take a firm stance. Saïss mentioned that Ziyech later told him the coach had asked him to leave. He added, «I was present at a meeting that evening with the coach, Ziyech, and the president of the federation, where I acted as a translator, carefully choosing words to bridge the gap». The following day, Saïss confirmed that Halilhodžić contacted him and expressed his intention to move forward with Ziyech, but what happened next was unexpected. In the subsequent training camp, Ziyech called Saïss and suggested they travel together from England on the same flight, to which Saïss agreed. However, the next morning, the final roster was announced, and Ziyech's name was not on the list. Halilhodžić then held a press conference where he harshly criticized Ziyech. Saïss affirmed that the coach's statements reached the English press, negatively impacting Ziyech's career at Chelsea, as he lost his place in the starting lineup under manager Thomas Tuchel.
