FIFA WC 2026: Why Morocco doesn’t need Issa Diop

Morocco is the choice of 'hypocrisy' for Diop
Difficult to start these lines without introducing them with the words of Issa Diop on May 31, 2019 in the Canal Football Club on Canal+ where he said in substance:

 "Going to another selection because I am not selected for the French team, it would be a little bit hypocritical (...) Even if I am never selected, I will not change."

These were the words of the central defender, then 22 years old and making his first steps in the Premier League under the colors of West Ham that he joined from Toulouse. At the time, the blue dream was still allowed for Issa Diop who traveled all categories of young people of the France team from U16 to U21. Seven years later, he is caught up in reality and at 29, he is aware that the senior French team will remain an eternal dream. And to digest this disappointment, he decided to be "a little bit hypocritical". 

In the absolute, Issa Diop does not have to be ashamed of swallowing his spit since it comes from him. The problem is Morocco who, even having seen and listened to this statement, still opened the dialogue to the point of convincing him to play under his jersey, as revealed by Foot Mercato. His selection risks creating a historic precedent given the outcry caused by Brahim Diaz’s selection in 2024 when he was 'only' 24 years old, but also generating internal tensions.  

Risk of locker room explosion
Since the final of the AFCON 2025 lost at home, the locker room of Morocco is no longer the same. This defeat, which took away Walid Regragui, says a lot about the state of the locker room and the remarks of retired neo Romain Saïss on the missed panenka of Brahim Diaz confirm that cohesion is far from being the most shared thing in this Moroccan locker room.

In this context, summoning a player who has publicly indicated that he will not change his nationality can cause the locker room to explode. Especially since he is far from being a staple in his club, Fulham where he has only played 15 games since the beginning of the season. Cohabitation will necessarily be complicated with his teammates who, in addition to having to forget the disappointment of losing the AFCON final once on selection, will also have to deal with a polarizing player who often focuses attention around him at each appearance.

Morocco has central defenders able to fill the absence of Aguerd
Above all these arguments, there is a third and last reason that is even central to the search for a replacement for Nayef Aguerd. Morocco has central defenders who have already experienced it in the national team and whose feedback would be more beneficial for the Atlas Lions than the integration and adaptation of a new player less than three months before the World Cup.

Chadi Riad: after a year of absence due to a serious knee injury, Chadi Riad has resumed the competition with Crystal Palace since January and was even a setter on his first match against Chelsea (defeat 1-3). With 3 caps (1 goal) in the Morocco jersey, he already knows the environment of the Lions of the Atlas and would not take time to find his automatisms with his former teammates.

Marouane Louadni: winner of the CHAN and the Arab Cup in 2025, Marouane Louadni is one of the winners of the local Lions and AS FAR his club with which he has made 20 appearances this season. At 31 years old, his experience could be a considerable asset for the Moroccan defense and his selection would be a new advertisement for the local championship. He is equally comfortable in a three-man defense as in a four-man pattern.

Ismaël Kandouss: arrived at Berkane last year after having played in Dunkirk, Genk or even Al-Orobah, Ismaël Kandouss (28) has had a great season with the Renaissance of which he is one of the players (20 games). He had only one selection on June 12, 2023 against Cape Verde (0-0) under Regragui, but the advantage of evolving locally allows him to better understand the Moroccan context and he is also a serious profile.

Samy Mmaee: The 29-year-old defender is also active with Qarabag where he has 15 appearances this season. With 10 caps, Samy Mmaee is also already familiar with the selection and would have no problem rejoining the Atlas, even if his last call-up with Morocco dates back to 2022.

Apart from these experienced players, Mohamed Ouahbi could also strike a great blow by getting Smail Bakhty and Ismaël Baouf who formed a solid central link during the consecration of Morocco at the U20 World Cup to the top spot. So many choices to avoid starting from scratch with Diop.

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