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