Madrid — Hours after FIFA rubber-stamped his one-time nationality switch, Fulham centre-back Issa Diop started for Morocco in Friday’s 1-1 friendly draw with Ecuador, adding a fresh layer to the month-long tug-of-war between Morocco and Senegal over January’s Africa Cup of Nations crown.
Diop, 29, born in Toulouse to a Senegalese father and Moroccan mother, had previously turned down approaches from both African federations while holding out for a France call-up that never arrived. He filed the switch request after talks with Morocco coach Mohamed Ouahbi and federation president Fouzi Lekjaa and was cleared by FIFA on Thursday.
“I was very happy to play in a team with a lot of good players, and I think I’ve made a good choice,” Diop said at Madrid’s Metropolitano stadium.
The timing is awkward: Senegal this week lodged a formal appeal at the Court of Arbitration for Sport after the Confederation of African Football awarded Morocco the title, ruling Senegal forfeited the Rabat final on 18 January by walking off in protest at a late penalty. Senegal will parade the physical trophy before Saturday’s friendly against Peru at Stade de France beneath a “Champions of Africa” banner.
Morocco have long tapped Europe — based players with ancestral links; 12 of Senegal’s 28-man Cup-winning squad were also born in France. Diop’s arrival gives the Atlas Lions added defensive depth ahead of 2026 World Cup qualifying, while Dakar continues to label the forfeit ruling “unjust”.
Source: aljazeera
