FIFA Grants Approval for Diop's National Team Switch
In a significant development for Moroccan football, FIFA has officially approved the inclusion of Fulham defender Issa Diop and Ajax midfielder Ryan Bouhida into the national team. This announcement comes as part of a broader recruitment strategy, which has seen seven players join the Moroccan squad this month. The Moroccan team, which reached the semi-finals of the 2022 World Cup, is gearing up for the upcoming 2026 tournament to be hosted across the United States, Canada, and Mexico. With this latest addition, the total number of players who have joined the Moroccan national team since March has now risen to 16.
Diop and Bouhida: New Faces in the Moroccan Squad
Issa Diop, at 29 years of age, has previously represented France at various youth levels, including both the U21 and senior teams. Meanwhile, Bouhida is one of six players under the age of 20 who have switched their sporting nationality this month to represent Morocco after previously participating in youth matches for Belgium or the Netherlands. All these players maintain direct familial ties to Morocco, which, under FIFA regulations, permits them to change their national allegiance, especially if they have not yet played in competitive matches for their original countries.
As reported by alarabiya.net.
