It was a mixed batch of results for Hibernian players on the international stage this weekend, but perhaps the most disappointed of them all was not even involved! Merouane Zemmama had to count himself out of the Morocco side that was making one final attempt to quality for the African Nations Cup Finals in January, having already failed to make the World Cup finals it was one final chance for Zemmama and team-mate Abdessalam Benjelloun.

Unfortunately Morocco was consigned to failure on both fronts after losing out to Cameroon in Zemmama's absence. While that is bad news for Merouane, it has the plus of ensuring both he and Benjelloun will be available for their club.

Zemmama had to remain in Scotland after suffering a groin injury in Hibernian's last home game against Aberdeen - an injury that saw him miss the Edinburgh Derby. The midfielder was also booked for 'diving' in that game - Merouane hotly disputing that he committed any such offence, and confirming that was not the moment when he sustained the injury: "Against Aberdeen I felt a sharp pain in my groin - I had a scan 48 hours after that and it found that I had a strain but it was very small and while it meant I missed the international game this weekend I hope to be back for Hibernian in time for the St Mirren match this week. I had hoped that Morocco could win their game without me against Cameroon.

"It was a tough game - both teams needed to win to qualify, one for the world cup finals and us for the African Nations in January. It was disappointing that I could not be with the team but it is now even more disappointing that we will not be involved in the African Nations finals now.

"I was booked for diving against Aberdeen but that is not where I got the injury - I did not dive either, the defender was in my way and I fell over him, it was not I think a yellow card but that's OK, referee's can make mistakes sometimes. I'm not worried about it, I think everyone could see afterwards that it was not a yellow card, it's not like it was around the penalty box or anything and I certainly did not mean to dive for anything, he was just in the way and I fell over him."

Before having to sit out the Derby, Zemmama had been turning in his best run of form since first arriving at Easter Road just over three years ago. With another 18 months remaining on his contract, the immediate future looks secure for the player who has his mind firmly on resuming that good run of form - and maintaining it through to the end of his current deal: "Since I came to Hibernian the supporters always provide me with a lot of motivation to play well and that keeps me going all the time. It is a spirit I hope to keep for myself and the fans and so everyone can be happy.

"Having John Hughes as manager is another good thing, he gives me freedom and liberty on the pitch, to make my own decisions - he tells me what I need to do defensively but when it is attacking he leaves me to do my job and I like that very much. He has a good philosophy on the game and so I really hope we can do something with him this season.

"Before my injury I was fully fit and playing every week, we did not lose any games and now I'm looking forward into the next round of games and helping keep that going, to help keep the team in second or third place. I have another season with Hibernian after this one, that lets me focus fully on the team and what happens in the future will happen - it is not on my mind right now, my thinking is only to do well for this team and my work and we will let the future decide itself."

Elsewhere on the international trail, Paul Hanlon will likely be the happiest Hibernian player around as he once again turned in a five-star performance in central defence for Scotland's Under-21 side. The young Scots beat Azerbaijan 4-0 away from home with Hanlon joined by David Wotherspoon who also made an appearance for the side, Lewis Stevenson missing out this time after his late call-up to the squad. Derek Riordan meanwhile was restricted to another 10-minute cameo appearance for the senior side against Wales, leaving the Hibernian man no time to make any impact in the 3-0 defeat.

Anthony Stokes was not used in the Republic of Ireland side that went down 1-0 in the home leg of their World Cup qualification play-off against France, but Sol Bamba recovered from his knee injury to feature for the full 90-minutes of a 3-0 win over Guinea.