Six more players decide to play for Morocco

The Royal Moroccan Football Federation is continuing its relentless pursuit of every “lost son” of the Atlas Lions. Despite the current saga regarding the AFCON title, which have been stripped off Senegal by CAF, Morocco is recruiting new players in order to continue their dominance in Africa. As Mohamed Ouahbi — who led the U20 team to a world title and has now taken over the senior squad ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026 — put it:

“We don’t want to wait until 2030 to become world champions. Morocco will try to do it in 2026.”

Bold words, but not without foundation. Morocco national football team finished fourth at the 2022 World Cup and reached the final of the Africa Cup of Nations, losing to Senegal national football team — a result that cost Walid Regragui his job. Controversy followed, but no one can deny Morocco’s rapid rise in recent years. There are many reasons behind it. One is the prestigious Mohammed VI Football Academy, which produced players like Youssef En-Nesyri, Nayef Aguerd, Azzedine Ounahi, and Yassir Zabiri. But the real secret lies elsewhere — in successfully bringing back players whose families emigrated to Europe long before they were born.

“We must make sure no one escapes us,” said scout Rabi Takassa back in 2022.

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Very few have slipped away. Achraf Hakimi chose Morocco despite being born in Madrid. Brahim Díaz came from Malaga. Noussair Mazraoui developed in the Netherlands, as did several others. The same goes for players raised in Belgium, France, and across Western Europe — all now part of Morocco’s expanding talent pool. And new names keep coming. In just the past two weeks, six players have switched national allegiance to Morocco, according to FIFA lists. Some will need patience before reaching the senior team, as they’re still eligible for youth squads. Among them: Rayane Bounida (Ajax, attacking midfielder, born in Belgium) — the most likely to get a senior call-up soon, Saif-Eddine Lazer (Genk youth, winger), Benamin Haderi (PSV youth, central midfielder), Ayoub Ouarghi (Feyenoord youth, attacking midfielder), Oualid Agougil (Utrecht, defensive midfielder), Sami Bouhoudane (PSV youth, striker). But the biggest targets are still ahead. Morocco is reportedly pursuing Thiago Pitarch of Real Madrid (currently with Spain U20) and Ayoub Bouaddi of Lille OSC (already a regular at club level and with France U21). And they won’t stop there. Western Europe is full of talented players with Moroccan roots — and the Atlas Lions are determined to bring as many of them “home” as possible.