Zakaria El Ouahdi has ended speculation surrounding his international allegiance, affirming his commitment to Morocco despite interest from Belgium.
In recent weeks, Belgian national team coach Domenico Tedesco publicly expressed his desire to include El Ouahdi in the Red Devils’ setup.
The 22-year-old Genk right-back, who turns 23 in December, had emerged as a potential addition to the Belgian squad.
Tedesco, speaking earlier this month, stated: “Zakaria El Ouahdi? We are looking at the option, just like with Mile Svilar.
The official response always takes a little time. Although we cannot forget that our places are also limited.”
The coach’s comments fueled rumors that El Ouahdi might switch allegiances from Morocco to Belgium, sparking debate among fans and analysts alike.
The defender, who has represented Morocco at youth levels and was part of the nation’s bronze medal-winning team at the Paris 2024 Olympics, has only made one senior call-up under Atlas Lions coach Walid Regragui. He did not feature during that appearance and has not been recalled since.
Faced with growing speculation and some criticism from Moroccan supporters, the Antwerp-born defender of Moroccan descent has now clarified his stance.
In a statement shared via the football-focused account Soccer212, El Ouahdi declared his unwavering allegiance to Morocco.
“I am Moroccan and I will remain Moroccan,” he said. “We still have to work to come to the national team. It is Allah who decides and gives us our rizq (blessings).”
The statement is likely to reassure Moroccan fans who feared losing the talented right-back to Belgium, a nation he is eligible to represent due to his birthplace.
Despite his decision to stay loyal to Morocco, El Ouahdi faces stiff competition for a place in the Atlas Lions squad.
Walid Regragui’s team, renowned for its depth and defensive prowess, boasts several high-performing players in the right-back position.
El Ouahdi’s challenge now lies in proving himself to the coaching staff and earning a recall to the squad.
His allegiance to Morocco reflects a growing trend among players of dual nationality choosing to represent their countries of heritage, driven by personal and cultural ties.
As the Atlas Lions continue to build on their historic performance at the 2022 FIFA World Cup, where they reached the semi-finals, Zakaria El Ouahdi will hope his loyalty and effort will be rewarded with a greater role in the national team setup.
🚨 INFO SOCCER212
Concernant le cas El Ouahdi et son choix de sélection suite aux quelques rumeurs de la presse belge, ses mots ont été clairs :
« Je suis marocain et je resterai marocain. Il faut encore travailler pour venir en sélection. C’est Allah qui décide et nous donne… https://t.co/K5ITybHPlZ pic.twitter.com/82Or2rWDoQ
— SOCCER212 (@SCCR_212) November 24, 2024
