Morocco-Walid Regragui: "All I ask is that those who play with us don't do so by default"
Walid Regragui sets out his position on dual nationals. The Morocco coach, who has been in their situation, does not cast blame on them
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The debate over dual nationals is coming up more and more often. Several of them are turning to African national teams to pursue an international career. Recently there was Houssem Aouar who, after several years of hesitation and a cap with the France national team, finally switched to Algeria. Morocco have also managed to persuade several dual nationals to join the ranks of the Atlas Lions. But this time, from a very young age. Walid Regragui has been able to count on Bilal El Khannouss (18), Abdessamad Ezzalzouli (21) and Chadi Riad (19), among others.
While these talented footballers are a real boon for African nations, the view in Europe is different. Many of them, born in these countries where they also did all of their youth development, are seen somewhat as "pariahs" or as failed investments. Walid Regragui rejects that view. "A player switching nationality doesn't imply a social failure, it's just the expression of a feeling. Laporte playing for Spain is not a failure for France. Perhaps he felt more Spanish having done his development in Spain", he says in an interview with the Spanish newspaper El Pais.
A question of choice
The Morocco coach does not stop there. Walid Regragui took his own case as an example. He was born in Corbeil-Essonnes, in France. "Only a dual national knows what it is to be a dual national. Nobody can put themselves in the place of a son born in Europe to Moroccan, Colombian or Peruvian parents. I am grateful to France, I was born there, I was brought up there and I rose socially there. I played football in France, but I don't forget my parents' story. All I ask is that those who play with us don't do so by default ".
However, Walid Regragui believes that above all, no one should cast blame on those who choose European national teams over African ones. "Why did Mbappé, who could have done so, choose France rather than play for Cameroon or Algeria? The norm is that players choose the country where they grow up. That is the case with Brahim Diaz. He is 23, he has to decide who he wants to marry".