Morocco coach meets Lille midfielder  Ayyoub Bouaddi amid push for national team call-up

Ayyoub Bouaddi has met representatives of the Moroccan national team as the country increases efforts to persuade the highly rated midfielder to represent the Atlas Lions.

Mohamed Ouahbi, recently appointed as Morocco’s national team coach, travelled to France this week to hold discussions with the young LOSC Lille player.

The visit formed part of Morocco’s ongoing attempt to convince one of Europe’s most promising young prospects to commit his international future to the North African nation.

Ouahbi was joined by Fouzi Lekjaa, president of the Royal Moroccan Football Federation, during the trip.

The pair attended a match at the Stade Pierre-Mauroy on Thursday, where Lille faced Aston Villa in the UEFA Europa League.

While the officials were present for the European fixture, the visit also provided an opportunity for direct talks with Bouaddi.

The midfielder has attracted attention across Europe and is widely regarded as one of the emerging talents in the game.

Morocco has been keen to secure his commitment as it looks to strengthen its squad for future international competitions.

During their stay, the Moroccan delegation also met Bouaddi’s parents. The discussions were aimed at outlining the national team’s ambitions and presenting the long-term sporting project being developed by the federation.

Morocco hopes that the talks will help persuade the Lille player to join the national side in the near future.

If an agreement is reached, Bouaddi could receive his first call-up during Morocco’s next international gathering in March.

The Atlas Lions are scheduled to play two friendly matches during that window as they prepare for upcoming tournaments.

The national team is expected to face the Ecuador national football team followed by the Paraguay national football team as part of preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Securing Bouaddi’s international commitment would represent an important addition to Morocco’s long-term plans as the team continues building towards the next World Cup cycle.