Issa Diop chooses Morocco over France

Issa Diop has ended speculation over his international future by opting to represent Morocco, embracing his maternal heritage after years within France’s youth setup. The Fulham centre‑back, who previously featured for France from under‑16 level through the U21s, never made a senior appearance, leaving the door open for a switch. Morocco’s federation had long identified him as a priority target to reinforce the national team’s back line.

Diop’s Premier League experience, first with West Ham and now with Fulham, makes him an appealing addition for coach Mohamed Wahbi, who is expected to call him up once the nationality‑change process is finalised. The federation has already begun the required paperwork to make him eligible for official competitions. Should the procedure be completed swiftly, Diop could join the next national‑team camp and make his debut for the Atlas Lions, adding depth and maturity to a squad aiming to maintain its recent momentum on the international stage.