As Morocco continues its search for new talents capable of wearing the "Atlas Lions" jersey in the future, a young name has emerged who chose to begin his international journey through a different gateway, a decision that brings back to the forefront the competition among national teams for dual-nationality talents.
Promising Moroccan striker Qais Al-Mutaki, son of Mehdi Benatia, the former captain of the Moroccan national team, decided to represent France's youth teams after officially joining the French U-15 squad list today, Friday, marking his first international appearance at the national team level.
Qais Al-Mutaki, born in 2012, plays for Olympique de Marseille's youth academy and will participate with the French U-15 team in the World Cup Festival competitions for this age group, having chosen at the start of his international career to follow a path different from his father, who wore the Moroccan national team jersey during a distinguished international career.
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According to French reports, Qais's choice comes within the context of national federations' interest in young talents who have more than one option regarding sporting nationality, especially since the player at this age stage is still able to change the national team he represents in the future according to regulations, before reaching the stage of playing for the senior national team.
The French Football Federation announced a list of 18 players born in 2012 to participate in the first edition of the U-15 World Cup and Festival, hosted by the Azerbaijani capital Baku from October 22 to 30, featuring some of the most prominent talents in this age group.
Although Qais Al-Mutaki's participation with the French U-15 team does not mean permanently closing the door on the possibility of representing Morocco in the future, his appearance in the "Les Bleus" jersey marks a notable beginning to his international career, especially as he is the son of one of the most prominent defenders of the Moroccan national team in recent years, making the family name present again in the international scene but this time through the French gateway.
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