Monaco Midfielder Eliesse Ben Seghir Chooses Morocco Over France

Rabat – Moroccan international football player Eliesse Ben Seghir has spoken about his decision to represent the Moroccan national football team, rather than the French team, according to a report by French sports daily l’Equipe.

“I’m lucky enough to have been able to play for two great footballing nations [France and Morocco]. It was a complicated but well-considered choice,” the Monaco attacking midfielder said at a press conference on his choice to play for Morocco, stressing that he made the decision “a little over a month ago” despite his injury.

The 19-year-old player went on to say that his choice was motivated by his Moroccan heritage. But he noted that the choice was not an easy one for him, given the footballing reputations of the two national teams.

“I made this choice because of my roots; both my parents are Moroccan. It was not an easy choice, but my roots won out,” Ben Seghir said, stressing that “it may seem a bold choice at my age, but why wait when you know what you want? I know what I want.”

Ben Seghir is among the players who were recently called up by Moroccan head coach Walid Regragui for the Atlas Lions’ upcoming friendly matches against Angola and Mauritania.

“Joining the Moroccan team is a great opportunity. When the coach calls you, it is very difficult to refuse,” the Monaco player said of his call up by Regragui.

The midfielder cited the appeal of Morocco’s project as another factor that played a central role in his choice to play for the Atlas Lions.

Ben Seghir’s decision adds to the list of dual nationality players who have opted to play for Morocco, the most recent being the Real Madrid star Brahim Diaz.

Both Ben Seghir and Diaz will participate in Morocco’s next friendly matches that will be played on March 22 and 26 against Angola and Mauritania, respectively.

The matches will be played in the Adrar stadium in the southern Moroccan city of Agadir.

Ben Seghir has so far scored five goals with Monaco in 32 appearances. Between 2021 and 2023, he played for the French U17, 18, and 19 football teams.