Ayoub Oufkir, the 20-year-old AZ Alkmaar winger, informed the Dutch Football Association of his final decision to represent the Moroccan national team last Wednesday afternoon, following his first call-up by national coach Mohamed Ouahbi in a 26-man squad for the two matches against Niger in the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers. The decision did not pass silently within the Dutch FA, which had counted the player as part of its Under-21 project.
Dutch disappointment and recognition of the emotional nature of the decision
Nigel de Jong, the Dutch FA’s technical director, revealed that his federation had made efforts to retain the player’s services after spotting his talent early. De Jong said the FA feels disappointed by Oufkir’s decision to represent Morocco, adding that Dutch officials had monitored the player’s development and worked to persuade him to continue his international career with their national team.
The Dutch official explained that both parties had expressed mutual trust on more than one occasion, and that these indications continued until the week before the decision was announced. He added that choosing a national team remains a personal and emotional decision for dual-nationality players, stressing his understanding of the difficulty of choosing between two countries despite the federation’s desire to keep the player.
Attempts at persuasion were not limited to federation officials. His coach at AZ, Leeroy Echteld, spoke of his preference for Oufkir to continue representing the Netherlands given his belonging to the country, but stressed respect for the player’s decision.
What the decision means for the Moroccan national team and its fans
Oufkir is 20 years old, was born in Rotterdam, and has worn the Netherlands shirt at youth levels. He was a starter in the most recent Under-21 camp, where coach Michael Reiziger relied on him in the qualifiers for the European Championship at that level. His choice of Morocco adds an attacking option to Ouahbi’s group, after the player was monitored in the Dutch league where he plays as a winger and is known for his speed and movement into spaces.
Ouahbi had previously spoken about the player’s qualities, noting his dynamism, speed, dribbling skills and ability to deliver crosses. Oufkir’s case reflects the competition between the two federations to attract dual-nationality players, a recurring issue in Moroccan football over the years.
InfoSport figures
- 20 is the age of Ayoub Oufkir at his first call-up to the Moroccan first team.
- 26 players were included in Mohamed Ouahbi’s squad for the two matches against Niger in the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.
- Wednesday was the day the player informed the Dutch FA of his final decision, days before the Moroccan camp.
It is worth noting that Oufkir’s decision came after communication with Ouahbi, during which the player spoke with his immediate family before deciding, according to his statement to the official website of the Royal Moroccan Football Federation. The question remains: how will the Dutch FA handle similar cases in the future? Share your opinion in the comments.
