The Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) has intensified its efforts to secure the international future of rising midfield talent Ayyoub Bouaddi. Yesterday, FRMF President Fouzi Lekjaa and newly appointed Atlas Lions head coach Mohamed Ouahbi traveled to Lille to meet with the highly rated 18-year-old midfielder.
The fact that they showed up in person proves Morocco isn’t playing around when it comes to Bouaddi. It’s a total tug-of-war right now because France is also pushing hard to get him. By heading straight to Lille, the Moroccan federation is conveying the idea that they want him to be a cornerstone of the Lions’ future, not just another name on a list.
During their trip to northern France, the Moroccan officials first attended the match between LOSC Lille and Aston Villa before holding discussions with the player and his entourage.
👀 Images de Mohamed Ouahbi et Fouzi Lekjaa à Lille : le Maroc passe à l’action pour Ayyoub Bouaddi. 🇲🇦
Après son accord à Walid Regragui et à la FRMF, c’est 𝗠𝗔𝗜𝗡𝗧𝗘𝗡𝗔𝗡𝗧 𝗢𝗨 𝗝𝗔𝗠𝗔𝗜𝗦. https://t.co/hfZWwks4XC pic.twitter.com/CafbopFypf
— FRMF Xtra (@FRMFXtra) March 13, 2026
Morocco pushing to finalize Bouaddi’s international choice
The visit also comes at an important moment for Morocco’s national team. In March 2026, Mohamed Ouahbi succeeded Walid Regragui as head coach of the Atlas Lions and is expected to lead a new cycle built around both established internationals and emerging players. Bouaddi fits perfectly into that vision.
Reports circulating in recent days suggest the Lille midfielder may have already given a principal agreement to represent Morocco starting in June 2026. But the FRMF wants to formalize the decision as quickly as possible, especially as France and its head coach Didier Deschamps continue to monitor the player’s situation.
Despite his young age, Bouaddi has already had a strong 2025–2026 season with Lille. The midfielder has appeared in 22 Ligue 1 matches, accumulating 1,674 minutes while maintaining an impressive pass accuracy of around 89 percent and contributing an assist.
His composure on the ball, tactical intelligence, and ability to control the tempo of a game have made him one of the most exciting prospects to emerge from the French league this season.
Morocco’s renewed push for Bouaddi comes as the Atlas Lions prepare for upcoming international friendlies against the Ecuador national football team on March 27 in Madrid and the Paraguay national football team on March 31 in Lens. Those matches will be the official start of Ouahbi’s tenure on the Moroccan bench and could serve as the starting point for the next generation of Atlas Lions. If negotiations continue to move in the right direction, Bouaddi could soon become one of the most significant additions to Morocco’s long-term project.
