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Defender Aïssa Diop made his debut with the Moroccan national team yesterday, Friday, in a friendly match that ended in a 1-1 draw against Ecuador in Madrid, just under 24 hours after FIFA approved his nationality switch.
The immediate inclusion of the Fulham defender in the starting lineup reflects his swift integration into the team’s new project, following consultations with national coach Walid Regragui and the president of the Royal Moroccan Football Federation, Fouzi Lekjaa.
The 29-year-old player, born in France to a Senegalese father and a Moroccan mother, finally chose to represent Morocco after years of hesitation. He had aspired to wear the French national jersey but did not receive an official call-up from coach Didier Deschamps.
In his first comments after the match, Diop expressed his satisfaction with his decision, confirming that he found a positive atmosphere within the group, and that the presented sports project was a decisive factor in his international choice.
This appearance coincided with a tense regional football context between Morocco and Senegal, following the ongoing debate about the Africa Cup of Nations title, which was withdrawn from the Senegalese team and awarded to Morocco—a decision Dakar has officially contested at the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
While Morocco enhances its strategy of attracting dual-nationality players, particularly from Europe, Diop’s case stands out as the first direct competition with another African team for a player of similar origins.
Conversely, Senegal continues to heavily rely on its talent pool in France, fielding a significant number of players born there in their squad that reached the finals of the recent Africa Cup of Nations.
Tensions between the two sides persist, as the Senegalese national team reaffirmed its claim to the title of “African Champion” during a press conference held before their friendly match against Peru, a symbolic step that reflects the ongoing dispute over the continental decision.
