Eighteen-year-old Ayoub Baouadi had been captaining the French U-21 team, but he has decided to represent his birthplace Morocco in the 2026 World Cup.
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For another generation, Ayoub Baouda possessed the talent to command the French midfield. But he also had the patience to wait a long time for entry into the French national team. Just three months ago, this 18-year-old player captained the French U-21 team. However, in the 2026 World Cup, he is representing Morocco.
Coincidentally, when Morocco faces France in the quarterfinals, it will be a match against his country of birth. Recently, French captain Didier Deschamps was asked about Baouda. At that time, he said Baouda would still have to wait some time to play for the national team. Deschamps said, “There is fierce competition to get into the French team.”
Instead of playing a friendly against Brazil in America, Ayoub considered it right to captain the French U-21 team against Luxembourg. Morocco had been closely observing all these events and also realized that Baouda could be persuaded. In such a situation, a proposal was made to a top-level player like him, who plays in Ligue 1: if he played for Morocco, he would be included directly in the World Cup team.
He did not think twice about this proposal, and since he was born to Moroccan parents, he decided to play for that country. In French football, he was seen as a trustworthy young talent. It was said that he would play football at a high level for a long time. Thus, he is the kind of diamond-like player that France has lost.
