Fulham defender Issa Diop made his Morocco debut after making the switch from France. Diop represented France at age group level but never made it to the senior side and qualifies for Morocco through his mother.
Fulham centre-back Issa Diop made his Morocco debut after having his international switch officially confirmed by FIFA.
The 29-year-old was born in Toulouse in the south west of France and had always had ambitions of representing his country of birth.
But after routinely failing to make the final squad of Didier Deschamps, Diop opted for the country of his mother, with the World Cup in mind.
He had previously represented France at the age-group level, playing all the way from U16 to U21 and making 40 combined appearances, including 20 for the France U19 side.
There was an element of controversy around Diop electing Morocco, with his father being from Senegal and both countries trying to persuade him to represent them in the past.
Morocco have a reputation for courting players who they think can improve their team and Diop siding with Morocco is the first time they have beaten a fellow African team to do so.
Of course with the Africa Cup of Nations drama, in which Senegal beat Morocco 1-0 only for the match to subsequently be awarded to Morocco as Senegal were deemed to have forfeited the match.
Diop can be considered a part of the ongoing battle between the two sides, with Senegal taking the case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
The Fulham defender started alongside Crystal Palace’s Chadi Riad , in a back four that also contained Manchester United’s Noussair Mazraoui and Paris Saint-Germain’s Achraf Hakimi.
He was booked in the 80th minute, as Morocco came from a goal down to draw 1-1 with Ecuador at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano.
Diop said: “I was very happy to play in a team with a lot of good players, and I think I’ve made a good choice.
“They explained their vision to me, and I was taken in with open arms by a cheerful group of players with a great atmosphere in the camp.”
Morocco are next in action on Tuesday night, taking on Paraguay in their final friendly before their World Cup squad is announced.
Diop will be desperate to make the Morocco squad for this summer as he looks to play in a World Cup.
Morocco have been drawn in Group C, alongside five-time champions Brazil, Scotland and Haiti.
They will be hoping to follow up their incredible run to the semi-finals in the 2022 World Cup and Diop will likely play a part for the north African side in the USA, Mexico and Canada.