Rayane Bounida earns first Morocco call-up after closing door on Belgium | OneFootball

Rayane Bounida has earned his first Morocco call-up after closing the door on Belgium. According to L'Équipe, the 20-year-old told the Royal Belgian Football Association, RBFA, earlier on Wednesday that he had chosen Morocco, and he was selected that evening.

The attacking midfielder had previously featured for Belgium at under-17, under-19 and under-21 level. Lauded from a young age for standout technique, he was seen as one of the most promising dual nationals in the Belgian pool.

Born in Vilvoorde on the outskirts of Brussels, Bounida began his development at Anderlecht. He moved to Ajax at 16 to continue his development in the Netherlands.

Comfortable centrally or out wide, he has broken into Ajax’s first team this season. He has made 24 appearances, scoring two goals and providing eight assists.

His decision mirrors recent switches by Chemsdine Talbi, who also chose Morocco before the Africa Cup of Nations, and Konstantinos Karetsas, who committed to Greece in 2025 rather than Belgium.

Source: L'Équipe