Morocco - Eliesse Ben Seghir: "My choice is a bold one"
Unlike some dual nationals who struggle to decide their international future, Ben Seghir made his choice quickly.
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New recruit to Walid Regragui's squad Eliesse Ben Seghir already knew which shirt he would wear at international level. France were certainly courting him, but the Monaco talent did not hesitate when the coach of the Atlas Lions laid out his plans for him. "I'm fortunate to be able to represent two great football nations: France and Morocco", he observed, before continuing. "So my choice was a difficult one, even though it was carefully thought through. I made this decision a month ago, when I was coming back from injury. It's also a relief for me. I made this choice because of my roots, as both my parents are Moroccan", explained the young Monaco attacking midfielder.
"Why wait when you know what you want?"
Despite his meagre playing time, Regragui moved early to secure the 19-year-old. Eliesse Ben Seghir has played in only 9 matches in the French Ligue 1 this season, totalling just 169 minutes. That did not stop Walid from putting Eliesse Ben Seghir's name on his list, much to the delight of the youngster. "I accept this choice, it's a personal decision. It's bold, but why wait when you know what you want? Being able to play with the senior team straight away also played a part. When Morocco call you, it's hard to say no", the Monaco player added.
The 19-year-old attacking midfielder came through at AS Monaco, where he worked his way up to the first team in 2022. For France, he has played at youth level, taking part in the Euro U19 qualifiers and the Maurice Revello tournament in 2023.
Morocco play two friendlies, against Angola (22 March) and Mauritania (26 March).
Jim CEESAY