Sofiane Diop, the striker for the French football club Nice, has disclosed the motivation behind his decision to represent the Moroccan national team instead of France.
This choice comes after reaching a certain stage that compelled him to finalize his decision.
In an interview with “Le Club de 5,” Diop stated, “I was contemplating the matter and thinking about the choice, and I reached a stage where I had to make my decision, but it was essential to wait for the right time.”
He further added, “At one point, I decided to contact the national coach, Walid Regragui, to inform him that I wanted to play for the Moroccan national team.”
Continuing, he said, “I know Terry Henry well from our time together in Monaco and the French Olympic team.
We spent a period together, but he faced several problems with injuries to a group of players, and others were young without sufficient experience.”
Sofiane Diop recently joined the Moroccan national team in their latest training camp before the match against Tanzania.
He was also selected by Walid Regragui in the extended list announced in preparation for the African Cup, although his name was later excluded from the final roster.
The 23-year-old Sofiane Diop has participated in only nine matches with his French club Nice so far, having previously played in the youth categories of the French national team.
His decision to represent Morocco highlights the growing trend of players choosing to play for their ancestral countries, contributing to the diversity and strength of national squads.
