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In a segment from the documentary «Inside: The Rise of Moroccan Football», produced by Onze Mondial and recently unveiled on its YouTube channel, Royal Moroccan Football Federation president Fouzi Lekjaa expressed his respect for Lamine Yamal's decision to play for Spain.
He emphasized that this choice has not influenced the federation's interactions with Yamal or his family. Addressing Yamal’s decision, Lekjaa told the French football media: «Jamal… Lamine Jamal. I can't think of a Spaniard by the name of Jamal, nor do I recall any player with that name in the Spanish national team's history.»
«We have respected Lamine's choice without any objection. Our approach towards him and his family, who still spend holidays, particularly in Morocco’s northern regions, their homeland, remains unchanged; they are always welcome there.»
Lekjaa highlighted Morocco's composed stance on the matter, underscoring the kingdom’s proud history and civilization. He noted that contributions from those of Moroccan origin to Spain’s national team reflect football’s universal appeal. He further explained that the federation doesn't assess dual-national players' choices through a lens of disappointment or pride.
«While it's pleasing that joining the Moroccan project is becoming common, we have steadfastly refrained from judging any player's decision through frustration or pride,» he stated.
He concluded by asserting that representing a national team is a personal decision. «For us, this is football, in all its universality. Choosing a national team based on administrative nationality is a personal choice, but it doesn't alter one's connection to their country.»
The documentary dives into Morocco’s strategy for nurturing talent and identifying potential stars, which has fueled the recent rise of Moroccan football. It also includes insights from national team players like Achraf Hakimi and Yassine Bounou, along with contributions from key figures in the National Technical Directorate, including Fathi Jamal and Mohamed Ouahbi.
