Six players switch nationality to represent Morocco

Six young players have either switched nationality or committed to representing Morocco within just 13 days, AfricasSoccer can report.

According to the report by Marca, this surge is the result of a long-term scouting and recruitment strategy introduced in 2010, which has focused on identifying talents of Moroccan descent developing across Europe, particularly in countries such as Spain, France, Italy, Germany, the Netherlands and Belgium.

Among the players who have completed their switch through FIFA’s nationality change platform are Rayane Bounida of Ajax and Saif Eddien Lazar of Genk, both born in 2006, who have opted to leave Belgium to represent Morocco’s national team.

In addition, Benjamin Khaderi of PSV, Ayoub Ouarghi of Feyenoord, Oualid Agougil of Utrecht and Sami Bouhoudane, also of PSV, have all made the decision to swap the Netherlands for Morocco.

Out of the six, only Rayane Bounida has so far earned a call-up to Mohamed Ouahbi’s squad for the upcoming friendly matches against Ecuador and Paraguay.

Morocco’s rising appeal among dual-nationality players has been strengthened by recent achievements on the international stage, including their triumph at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, a first-place finish at the Under-20 World Cup and their historic fourth-place finish at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

Marca noted that these additions are part of a long-term vision, stating: “They are mostly signings for the future, with an eye toward the cycle that will begin after the World Cup.”

A key pillar of this success is the Mohammed VI Football Academy, an initiative launched by King Mohammed VI as part of a broader national plan to elevate football development in the country.

The academy focuses on discovering and nurturing young talents while combining elite football training with formal education.

Over the years, the academy has produced several top players, including Youssef En-Nesyri, Nayef Aguerd, Azzedine Ounahi and more recently Yassir Zabiri, who scored both goals against Argentina in the Under-20 World Cup final.

Driven by this vision, the academy has become a cornerstone of Morocco’s football success, playing a crucial role in strengthening the country’s presence on the global stage.