Video: Morocco Legend Reveals Halilhodžić Thought He Was Algerian
19 February 2026
Revelation from a Moroccan Legend
In a recent appearance on the Hors-Jeu 212 podcast, Zahir Fadal, a former Morocco forward, recounts a striking exchange with Bosnian coach Vahid Halilhodžić.
Fadal says Halilhodžić invited him to join the squad after Romain Saïss's injury during a training camp for the Atlas Lions, then dropped a bombshell: he did not know Fadal's nationality.
According to Fadal, Halilhodžić told him that he had assumed he was Algerian or Tunisian, not Moroccan, which left the player surprised but amused.
Halilhodžić did lead the Atlas Lions to the 2022 World Cup by topping the group with 18 points and overcoming DR Congo in the playoff.
However, the federation eventually fired Halilhodžić in August 2022, appointing Walid Regragui to take the reins.
The interview adds another twist to a chapter already full of drama in Moroccan footballs recent history.
And yes, if life were a football game, someone forgot to check the nationality flags — or maybe the coach just misread the roster like a misprinted jersey during a corner kick.
