Issa Diop makes Morocco debut solely hours after receiving clearance and turning down Senegal advances.
Printed On 28 Mar 2026
Amid the controversy over Senegal being stripped of the Africa Cup of Nations title and Morocco being declared winners, the worldwide debut of Issa Diop proved one thing of an irony in addition to a public relations coup.
The Fulham defender was born in France and performed for the nation on the Beneath-21 degree, however on Thursday had his software to modify nationality to Morocco accredited by the world soccer governing physique, FIFA, and was instantly drafted into the beginning lineup for Friday night time’s 1-1 draw towards Ecuador in Madrid.
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Diop, whose father is Senegalese and mom from Morocco, had beforehand rejected overtures from each international locations to play for them whereas holding out hope he would possibly symbolize France.
The 29-year-old stated a number of instances he wished to play for Les Bleus, however with no call-up from France coach, Didier Deschamps, he has now taken up the chance to presumably play on the World Cup for Morocco.
“I used to be very pleased to play in a workforce with a number of good gamers, and I feel I’ve made a good selection,” Diop stated after Friday’s match.
Diop had talks with Morocco’s new coach, Mohamed Ouahbi, and Moroccan Federation President Fouzi Lekjaa.
“They defined their imaginative and prescient to me, and I was taken in with open arms by a cheerful group of gamers with an ideal environment within the camp,” he stated.
The North Africans have a observe report of assiduously courting gamers with hyperlinks to the nation who they consider can enhance their nationwide workforce, however that is the primary tug-of-war over participant loyalty with one other African nation they’ve received.
Senegal additionally draw closely on their diaspora in France, and the 28-man squad which received the Cup of Nations in Morocco in January featured 12 French-born gamers. Senegal this week formally contested the choice of the Confederation of African Soccer’s Attraction Board to take the title away from them. They have been dominated to have forfeited the ultimate in Rabat on January 18 as a result of they walked off the pitch in protest at a probably decisive penalty awarded to Morocco, however have now referred the matter to the Courtroom of Arbitration for Sport. The posturing between the 2 international locations continued on Friday when Senegal held a information convention, earlier than Saturday’s pleasant towards Peru, in entrance of a banner that learn “Champions of Africa”.
They’re anticipated to show the Cup of Nations trophy to supporters earlier than the match on the Stade de France.
