The Morocco boss wants the World Cup final against Spain to test Lamine Yamal’s choice of nationality
President of the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF), Fouzi Lekjaahe jokingly said he hoped Morocco to meet Spain in the World Cup final so that Lamine Yamal I can see if choosing La Roja over the Atlas Lions was the right decision.
Speaking to Aljazeera360, Lekjaa said Morocco respects Yamal’s choice to represent Spain despite extensive efforts to convince the Barcelona star to switch allegiance to the North African nation.
The Moroccan pursuit of Yamal
“Now I hope we meet Spain in the World Cup final to see if he really made the right decision or not,” Lekjaa said, stressing that the remark was made in a light-hearted manner.
The FRMF boss revealed that Morocco held several meetings with Yamal and his family in Spain and Morocco before the youngster finally committed his international future to Spain.
Yamal, who was born in Spain to a Moroccan father and an Equatorial Guinean mother, was the main target of the Moroccan recruitment project.
Lekjaa explained that Morocco presented its long-term football vision to the teenager and his family, but accepted his decision after making it clear that he wanted to represent Spain.
Why players choose Morocco
The federation president credited Morocco’s recent success in attracting players with dual citizenship to the country’s growing football project, improved infrastructure and the strong emotional ties many players maintain to their ancestral homeland.
He singled out Brahim Díaz as a notable example, describing the Real Madrid star as one of the country’s biggest recruiting successes.
Lekjaa added that Morocco’s regular participation in major international tournaments, combined with modern facilities and a player-friendly environment, continues to make the national team an attractive destination for footballers of Moroccan origin.
