Hakim Ziyech has featured 18 times for Chelsea in all competitions this season.

Chelsea forward Hakim Ziyech has not been recalled to Morocco’s squad for the Africa Cup of Nations next month.

The 28-year-old missed all six of his country’s 2022 World Cup qualifiers this year and has not played for the Atlas Lions since a friendly against Burkina Faso in July.

Paris Saint-Germain defender Achraf Hakimi and Wolves center-back Romain Saiss are included by coach Vahid Halilhodozic.

The other England-based players picked by the Bosnian are Watford pair Adam Masina and Imran Louza and Queens Park Rangers midfielder Ilias Chair.

Morocco are in Group C alongside Ghana, Comoros and Gabon for the tournament in Cameroon, which begins on 9 January and lasts until 6 February.

Ajax defender Noussair Mazraoui is also absent and along with Ziyech, his omission comes amidst after reports that the former clubmates have had a falling-out with Halilhodzic.

His availability in the new year will be a boost for Chelsea, who are chasing the Premier League title and take on Tottenham in a two-legged League Cup semi-final on either side of an FA Cup first-round tie against non-league Chesterfield on 8 January.

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The west London club are also set to play in the FIFA Club World Cup in February.

Comoros also named their squad yesterday for what will be their first-ever appearance at the Africa Cup of Nations.

The side ranked 132 in the world, only lost one game in qualification, away to Egypt.
They include veteran defender Nadjim Abodu, who spent a decade at Millwall, and Red Star Belgrade forward El Fardou Ben Mohamed.

Amir Abdou, coach of the Indian Ocean islanders, has drawn heavily on players based in France – with none of the squad playing in Comoros.