Morocco’s Football Chief Laments Lamine Yamal’s Spain Choice, Affirms Player’s Moroccan Roots

The President of the FRMF does not hide his disappointment about the loss of Yamal. "Yamal, it’s a regret, of course. It’s a surprise of life," confides Fouzi Lekjaa to L’Équipe. But this choice of the Barça prodigy does not take away his Moroccan nationality. "We must make the difference between nationality as such and sporting nationality," he emphasizes, explaining that this decision of the 17-year-old player "in no way impacts [his] origins." "Lamine Yamal’s real name is Amine Jamal," Lekjaa also reveals, highlighting the Moroccan origin of the Barça prodigy.

And he insists: "The more he (Yamal) prospers, the more he will set an example for young Moroccans, since he is Moroccan." The president of the governing body of Moroccan football also talks about Yamal’s family, who "frequently returns home" to Morocco. A way to affirm that Spain has managed to have Lamine Yamal, but the young talent remains a Moroccan. "Moroccans are proud and will remain proud," supports the President of the FRMF, before launching a jab: "When another one chooses to play for Morocco, I don’t see why he would be the subject of controversies."

Beyond the Lamine Yamal case, Lekjaa took advantage of this platform to skillfully denounce the disparity of treatment observed when a dual national chooses a European selection. Lamine Yamal has just completed an exceptional season with Barça. The young striker is among the favorites for the next Ballon d’Or.