Moroccan Striker Younes Taha Denies Rejecting Olympic Call-Up

According to some information relayed by the Dutch press, El Idrissi would not be willing to respond to the call of Tariq Sektioui, the coach of the Moroccan Olympic team, to take part in the next Olympic Games to be held from July 26 to August 11 in Paris. The Moroccan striker from Twente denied this rumor. "I was very surprised, my family and I, by the publication of a statement according to which I would refuse to participate in the Olympic Games with the national team, which is totally incorrect and unacceptable," he said in an interview with Hesport.

He added: "The statements published in the Dutch press were misreported. The Dutch journalist asked me after a match: do you want to focus on the team or participate in the Olympics? I replied that I had not yet received an invitation to participate, and that I was focusing on the first team, and I did not say that I did not want to join the national team."

Younes Taha El Idrissi insisted that it is "rare in football to find a player who refuses to participate with his country’s team, even for a friendly match, let alone a competition of the value of the Olympic Games where great stars have played." The 21-year-old striker reaffirmed his pride in being Moroccan and defending the colors of the kingdom. "I am Moroccan, very attached to my country and my national team, and my family in Morocco is proud when I am with the national team, and I cannot describe this feeling that all players know."

"I wish the national team good luck, and I am ready at any time, and my dream is to win titles with the national team, it is the dream of all players in the world," concluded El Idrissi. This season, the Twente striker has scored 3 goals and provided 1 assist in 20 matches. His contract with the Dutch club runs until the summer of 2027.