AFCON-bound Ziyech gutted after Ajax's UEFA exit

Hakim Ziyech

Friday May 10, 2019. 12:00

Morocco international Hakim Ziyech has blamed himself after his Dutch club Ajax Amsterdam bowed out of the UEFA Champions League.

The attacking midfielder was on the score sheet as Ajax lost 3-2 to English side Tottenham Hotspur, who won the semi-final tie on the away goals rule following a 3-3 draw on aggregate.

Ziyech was guilty of missing chances during the encounter which took place at the iconic Johan Cruyff Arena on Wednesday night.
"This hits us hard, really hard," Ziyech told Veronica. "I don't know how it happened. I just don't know.

"We knew it would be very difficult if they scored after the 2-2, but we had chances.

"I could have scored, hit the post. At least one of my chances should have gone in. Then it would have been over, but then it struck us hard," he added.

"I blame myself for this. We gave our all. The play wasn't great, but we kept fighting. Now disappointment prevails."

Ziyech is set to be included in the Morocco squad for the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) which will be hosted by Egypt.