HIBAPRESS
National coach Mohamed Wahbi has invited, for the first time, defender Issa Diop to join the Moroccan national team during the upcoming training camp, which includes friendly matches against Ecuador and Paraguay, in preparation for the 2026 World Cup finals.
Diop, a player for English club Fulham, is one of the names that has accumulated significant experience in European stadiums, where he began his career with French club Toulouse before moving to West Ham United in 2018, before settling at Fulham.
Diop, 29 years old, occupies the center-back position and is distinguished by his strong physique and distinguished presence in aerial balls, in addition to his ability to read the game and make decisive interventions, which makes him an important defensive option.
The player had previously worn the shirt of the French youth teams and was crowned with the under-19 national team in the European Championship, and he was also viewed as one of the names nominated to join the first team of the "Roosters".
Diop had previously rejected the idea of representing the Moroccan national team, where he stated that he aspires to play only for the French national team, before later backing down from his position, deciding to open the door to joining the "Atlas Lions".
It is expected that Diop's joining will be a qualitative addition to the Moroccan national team's back line, in light of the technical staff's endeavor to strengthen the human composition with elements with European experience before the upcoming events, especially in the World Cup finals.
