Saturday, August 13, 2022 at 4:49 PM• Jonathan van Haaster • Last update: 16:54

Oussama Tannane is not happy with the resignation of national coach Vahid Halilhodzic from the national team of Morocco. The midfielder made his debut for NEC on Sunday in the lost home game against FC Twente (0-1). Nevertheless, Tannane was the absolute trendsetter and he wants to continue his good form, with the ultimate goal of securing a place in Morocco’s World Cup squad.

After his first game for the Nijmegen team, Tannane already ran a lap of honor and was showered with applause from the NEC fans. Not long ago, the flamboyant tastemaker was still a player of arch-rival Vitesse, although it didn’t take long for the public to embrace Tannane. The eleven-time Moroccan international played an unparalleled first half, in which he scored almost from his own half, dribbled past opponents and put fellow players alone in front of the enemy’s goal. He wants to continue his current form towards the World Cup.

Oussama Tannane hasn’t forgotten about playing football… ?? The highlights of his first half in the shirt of @necnijmegen are to enjoy ?? pic.twitter.com/yoCoG1VGKL

— ESPN NL (@ESPNnl) August 10, 2022

Tannane was last called up to his country in March 2021. “The World Cup is a dream for everyone. That’s something that’s in the back of my mind, but I’m focusing on NEC first,” Tannane says in conversation with the Gelderlander. “Before the 2018 World Cup, I played five of the six qualifying matches. In the end I got injured and someone who was never selected for that took my place. The fact that the national coach has been fired is just not in my favor at all. He knew what he was doing to me. I had a good relationship with him, he is certainly not a bad man.” Halilhodzic was sacked this week due to his conflict with star player Hakim Ziyech, with whom he was at odds.

Tannane’s good form is remarkable. Last year, the agile left leg was removed from the selection after a fight with Vitesse trainer Thomas Letsch. In January he left for the Turkish Göztepe, although he soon disappeared on the bench after a coach change. Now Tannane is definitely back and he wants to wash away the sour feeling of the defeat against Twente. “We lacked a bit of luck in finishing the chances. I have every confidence that things will go better against Volendam, because we have a lot of quality in all lines.”