Morocco’s recruitment operation is moving at pace. According to a report by Marca, six players have completed sporting nationality switches to represent the Atlas Lions via FIFA’s Change of Association platform in the space of 13 days, with the country’s football federation continuing its long-running effort to identify and attract players of Moroccan heritage competing across Europe.
The six players arrive from Belgium and the Netherlands. Rayane Bounida and Saif Eddien Lazar have switched from Belgium, while Benjamin Khaderi, Ayoub Ouarghi, Oualid Agougil, and Sami Bouhoudane have swapped the Netherlands for Morocco. Most are young players, born between 2005 and 2008, with the majority viewed as investments for the cycle following this summer’s tournament rather than immediate World Cup inclusions.
Of the six, only Bounida has so far been called up to the senior squad, earning a place in Morocco’s upcoming friendlies against Ecuador and Paraguay. The Ajax midfielder has contributed two goals and eight assists in the current club season. The Belgian Football Association expressed disappointment over his decision whilst stating that it respects his choice, with several attempts made to convince him to stay.
The moves are the latest result of a recruitment strategy that has been in place since 2010, when Morocco’s federation began a systematic effort to ensure no player of Moroccan heritage slipped through the net. Former head coach Walid Regragui acknowledged the ongoing nature of the process, noting that absences from squad lists were often explained by nationality change procedures still in progress.
The strategy has been underpinned by significant investment in domestic development. The Mohammed VI Football Academy has produced a generation of senior internationals including Youssef En-Nesyri, Nayef Aguerd, and Azzedine Ounahi, as well as Yassir Zabiri, who scored both goals in Morocco’s Under-20 World Cup final victory against Argentina.
Morocco’s interest extends beyond the six confirmed switches. The federation is also tracking Lille midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi, a player of Moroccan heritage who has represented France at youth level. Reports indicate Bouaddi has given verbal consent to represent Morocco following a meeting with head coach Mohamed Ouahbi, with the federation optimistic about his inclusion. However, when asked directly, Bouaddi kept the door open, stating he has not yet made a decision.
Read More
New head coach Mohamed Ouahbi, who led Morocco’s Under-20 side to the World Cup title before being appointed to the senior role in place of Regragui, has been direct about the federation’s ambitions. Speaking ahead of this summer’s tournament, he stated that Morocco intends to compete for the title in 2026 rather than waiting for the edition the country co-hosts in 2030.
