Bouaddi stands by decision to represent Morocco instead of France, harbors no remorse following World Cup elimination

Ayyoub Bouaddi, Morocco's midfielder, has expressed no remorse over his decision to represent the Atlas Lions instead of France, following their World Cup quarter-final exit at the hands of Les Bleus on Thursday.

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France's 2-0 victory over Morocco secured their spot in the World Cup semi-finals, marking the end of the North Africans' impressive run, which included becoming the first African nation to reach consecutive World Cup quarter-finals.

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Bouaddi, who switched his international allegiance to Morocco in May after representing France at youth level and captaining the French Under-21 side, remains steadfast in his choice, with the 18-year-old Lille midfielder stating, "There's absolutely no regret at having chosen Morocco."

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He emphasized that his decision was driven by his heart, and he takes great pride in representing Morocco, regardless of the outcome, saying, "I always said that it was a choice from the heart, and I'm very proud to represent Morocco, regardless of what happens."

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Bouaddi highlighted the importance of the team's unwavering dedication, noting, "The most important thing now is that we know—the players, the staff, everyone—that whatever happens, we'll always give everything for the shirt."

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Although Morocco's exit from the competition was disappointing, Bouaddi believes the experience will ultimately benefit the team, allowing them to identify areas for improvement and work towards a stronger performance in future competitions.

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He acknowledged that the team had aspired to make the Moroccan people proud, saying, "We're proud, although we'd hoped to make the Moroccan people as proud as possible."

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Bouaddi, born and raised in northern France, was once considered one of the country's most promising young talents before committing to Morocco, and he has since become an integral part of coach Walid Regragui's team.

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The Lille midfielder made his competitive debut against Brazil earlier in the tournament and quickly established himself as a key player, with his performance earning him recognition as one of the breakout stars of the tournament.

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Reflecting on the defeat to France, Bouaddi noted that Morocco was aware of the challenge they faced, saying, "Going into the match, we knew we were up against a very good France team."

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He admitted that the match was always going to be difficult, requiring a tremendous amount of effort from the team, and although they gave it their all, they ultimately fell short, with Bouaddi saying, "I think we gave everything we had, we gave 100 per cent, but that's football—you can't always win."

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Bouaddi views the loss as an opportunity for growth, believing that it will help the team identify areas for improvement and inform their strategy for future competitions, saying, "I think this match will help us grow."

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Despite their elimination, Morocco has left the tournament with a historic achievement, becoming the first African nation to reach the World Cup quarter-finals in consecutive editions.