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Rabat – Morocco’s head coach Walid Regragui has called up Bilal El Khannouss as part of the official national squad that will travel to Qatar to take part in the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
The Atlas lion, who is the youngest member among the national football team, made international headlines in Belgium for his spectacular performances with Belgian club Racing Genk.
Belgian media and spectators expressed enormous regret after the young skilled football player chose to represent Morocco over Belgium.
Born in 2004 in Strombeek-Beever, Belgium, the Moroccan football player joined Genk at the age of 14.
El Khannouss played for Belgium’s U15 and U16 football teams. The attacking midfielder’s value in the football market is estimated at €4.5 million (MAD 50 million), according to Transfer Market.
During the Jupiler Pro League 2022-2023, the Moroccan player made 15 appearances and one assist with his Belgian club.
El Khannouss made his youth career debut with Anderlecht from 2009 to 2019, and joined Genk in 2019.
In addition, he played for Morocco’s U20 football club in 2022.
Commenting on El Khannouss’s choice, coach of the U21 football team Jackie Matise told TVM Sportcafe recently that it is a “pity because he is a very good and interesting player.”
El Khannouss also held a conversation with teammate Patrik Hrosovsky on Genk’s YouTube channel, where he said that he chose to play for Morocco because he wanted to make his grandparents proud.
The football player acknowledged that he felt proud to be chosen by Belgium’s national team, but that Morocco was his “heart’s choice.”
In an interview with sports news site Kooora, El Khannouss said that Roberto Martinez called him to represent Belgium.
“I feel proud because it reflects that I am on the right track… this does not happen with many players, especially since the Belgium team includes brilliant stars,” he said.
El Khannouss emphasized that he was under pressure by the media to reverse his decision to play for Morocco.
“I won’t submit myself to any sort of pressure. I made my decision and announced it publicly to represent Morocco,” he added.
Racing Genk coach Wouter Vrancken said, “Bilal adds stability to the team, but I believe he can be even more decisive. You can only work on that by playing.”
He emphasized that the football player had the profile to become a leader, “The most important thing is his desire to improve.”
El Khannouss is inspired by several teammates on the national team, including Soufiane Boufal and Hakim Ziyech – two of Morocco’s key players.
Walid Regragui decided to give El Khannouss the opportunity to play alongside the other football players that inspired him during the World Cup, the world’s biggest football tournament.
The World Cup draw put Morocco in Group F along with Belgium, Croatia, and Canada.
