Issa Diop makes debut for Morocco amid growing dispute with Senegal

Fulham's defender, born in France where he featured for the Under-21 side, received approval from FIFA on Thursday to change his international allegiance to Morocco. He was promptly selected for the starting eleven in the 1-1 stalemate against Ecuador held in Madrid.

With a Senegalese father and Moroccan mother, Diop had earlier declined invitations from both nations, holding onto aspirations of representing France.

The 29 year old has often voiced his wish to play for Les Bleus, yet without a call from coach Didier Deschamps, he has now embraced the prospect of competing for Morocco potentially at the World Cup.

“I was very happy to play in a team with a lot of good players, and I think I’ve made a good choice,” Diop remarked following the match on Friday.

Diop held discussions with Morocco's newly appointed coach Mohamed Ouahbi along with the Moroccan Football Federation President Faouzi Lekjaa.

“They explained their vision to me and I was taken in with open arms by a cheerful group of players with a great atmosphere in the camp,” he added.

Morocco boasts a reputation for diligently pursuing players with ties to the nation whom they view as enhancements to the team. However, this represents their first victory in a contest for a player's commitment against a fellow African country.

Senegal similarly relies on its French diaspora, with the 28 player squad that secured the Africa Cup of Nations victory in Morocco back in January comprising 12 players born in France.

This week, Senegal lodged a formal objection against the Confederation of African Football's Appeal Board decision to revoke their title.

They were judged to have surrendered the final match in Rabat on 18 January after departing the field in response to a pivotal penalty decision in favour of Morocco. The matter has since been taken to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

The posturing between the two countries continued on Friday when Senegal held a press conference ahead of Saturday’s friendly against Peru in front of a banner that read “Champions of Africa”.

They are anticipated to present the Cup of Nations trophy to fans before the encounter at the Stade de France.