Morocco’s Soccer Chief Addresses Ezzalzouli’s Choice of Spain Over National Team

While the coach of the Moroccan national team had called him up to participate in CAN 2022, Abdessamad Ezzalzouli sent a letter to the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) on Thursday in which he declined the offer, preferring to join the Roja squad. A change of sports nationality that occurred just after obtaining his Spanish nationality. "I spoke three times with Laporta and Xavi about Abde’s situation and his participation in the Africa Cup of Nations. The decision not to participate does not come from the club, but from the player himself," declared Fouzi Lekjaa, president of the FRMF, to 2M.

He says he contacted the 20-year-old player after receiving the letter. "I contacted Ezzalzouli last Thursday. He told me he would join the selection in March. I told him I couldn’t guarantee him that, given that the coach needs him for the CAN," added the FRMF boss. In other words, the native of Beni-Mellal will no longer have the chance to defend Morocco’s colors. Moreover, the coach of the Atlas Lions had already warned the players playing internationally: "If the player does not come, it means that his attachment to the national team is not strong enough. [...] I can refuse to take someone in the group who refuses to come, even if the threat exists from the clubs. He can say goodbye to the national team."