Lamine Yamal told me he wants to play for Spain over Morocco – Fouzi Lekjaa

The President of the Royal Moroccan Football Federation, Fouzi Lekjaa, has stirred fresh debate on national allegiance in international football after making pointed remarks about Barcelona sensation Lamine Yamal and his decision to represent Spain.

Speaking in a candid reflection on his earlier engagement with the young forward, Lekjaa revealed that Yamal had personally informed him of his choice to play for Spain, despite eligibility to represent Morocco through heritage.

“As for Lamine Yamal, I spoke with him and he told me he wants to play for Spain. I now hope we meet them in the World Cup final so we can show him whether he made the right choice or not,” said Lekjaa in an interview with Al Jazeera.

The comments, delivered with a mix of competitiveness and national pride, have quickly circulated across football circles, reigniting discussion about dual-nationality players and the growing competition between European and African federations for emerging talent.

Yamal, who is of Moroccan heritage and widely regarded as one of the most promising young attackers in world football, has long been at the centre of attention due to his Moroccan roots and his rapid rise within Spain’s youth system.

His decision to commit to Spain was seen as a significant moment for both federations, symbolising the broader trend of Europe securing elite prospects born to African heritage families.

Lekjaa’s remarks, however, frame the decision through a sporting rivalry lens, suggesting that Morocco’s ambitions extend beyond recruitment battles into on-pitch vindication at the highest level of the game.

The statement also reflects Morocco’s broader football trajectory in recent years, as the country has established itself as a continental powerhouse following its historic run to the 2022 FIFA World Cup semi-finals and continued investment in youth development and infrastructure.

While no official response has been issued by the Spanish football authorities or Yamal’s representatives, the comments are expected to add another layer of narrative tension ahead of future international tournaments where both nations could meet.

For Morocco, the ambition is clear: not only to compete with Europe’s elite, but to do so on the biggest stage imaginable — and, as Lekjaa put it, to let football provide the final answer.