Morocco beat France to Ayyoub Bouaddi in major World Cup boost

Morocco ‌have won the international tug-of-war for highly rated Lille midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi, who was born in France to ​Moroccan parents, after FIFA approved his switch of allegiance, handing the Atlas Lions a significant boost just weeks before the World Cup in North America.
The Royal Moroccan Football Federation said on Friday it had received a decision from FIFA’s Players’ Status Chamber approving its request to ‌change the ‌sporting nationality of Bouaddi, making ​him ‌immediately ⁠eligible ​to represent ⁠Morocco in all international competitions.
Bouaddi, 18, had represented France at youth level, most recently captaining the under-21 side in a European Championship qualifier against Luxembourg, but opted to commit his senior international future to Morocco.
The midfielder is regarded ⁠as one of Ligue 1’s brightest ‌young talents, having established ‌himself as a regular in ​Lille’s lineup in recent ‌seasons.
He has made more than 90 appearances ‌for the club across all competitions over three campaigns. He was the youngest player to feature in a European club competition match, aged 16 years and ‌three days.
Morocco have built a strong track record of recruiting dual-nationality players ⁠to strengthen ⁠their squad.
They recently convinced Fulham defender Issa Diop, who was born in France to a Moroccan mother, to commit to the North African nation, as did Ajax Amsterdam’s Rayane Bounida, a former Belgium under-19 captain.
The World Cup will be held in the United States, Canada and Mexico from June 11 to July 19. Morocco, the first African and Arab country ​to reach a ​World Cup semifinal, are drawn in Group C alongside Brazil, Haiti and Scotland.