Rising Star Bilal El Khannouss Chooses Morocco Over Belgium for International Career

28 October 2023 – bySaid@Bladi · 1 min read

Bilal El Khannouss is already emerging as a rising figure in football, at only 20 years old. The young attacking midfielder, who had dazzled the public last season, is displaying even more brilliant performances this year with three goals and two assists.

Born in Belgium but of Moroccan origin, the player has recently faced a dilemma that every dual national experiences: choosing between Belgium and Morocco.

In an interview with Eleven Insiders, El Khannouss revealed the deep motivations behind his choice. "It wasn’t a difficult choice, I just listened to my heart. My heart told me: ’choose Morocco’," he confides, referring to the sacrifice of his grandparents who left Morocco for Belgium. In their honor, and with pride, he opted for the Moroccan jersey, wishing to pay tribute to them by joining the Moroccan national team.

But it wasn’t easy for the young Belgian-Moroccan player. Having worn the Belgian jersey in youth competitions, the player acknowledges the unbreakable ties with his country of birth. "It was a weird feeling, because Belgium has given me everything since I was little," he admits, emphasizing his gratitude to the country that saw him grow and thrive in football.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fI8Ocho5XJQ

Category: Sport

Keywords:

Belgium Football Atlas Lions Videos Bilal El Khannouss