AZ Alkmaar’s 20-year-old winger Ayoub Oufkir has turned his back on the Netherlands to represent Morocco, according to Goal.com. Dutch head coach Xavi Hernandez has reacted to the decision, saying he respects the player’s choice.
Ayoub Oufkir, AZ Alkmaar’s 20-year-old winger, has made up his mind: he will wear the colours of Morocco. According to Goal.com, the youngster has given up the chance to represent the Netherlands to join the Atlas Lions. The choice is now official.
The decision is no small matter: Oufkir won the European Under-19 Championship with the Netherlands last year, and he had been called up to Jong Oranje for European qualifying before accepting the Moroccan federation’s invitation. Last Wednesday, he handed back his Jong Oranje shirt to join Morocco, as reported by Meemetoranje. A U-turn that has got people talking, and one Xavi Hernandez has addressed publicly.
Xavi: “We have to respect that choice”
Reacting to the decision, the Dutch head coach gave a measured response, translated from English by Goal.com: “I respect the players’ choice. I think we did everything, but in the end we have to respect that choice.” He added, according to the same source: “He chose Morocco and we no longer need to talk about that player. We did everything and in the end it is the player’s decision.”
The comments bring the saga to a close and confirm Oufkir’s departure from the Dutch setup. The report contains no statement from the player on the reasons for his choice, but his gesture, handing back the Jong Oranje shirt, marks a clean break with the Dutch national team.
A choice in keeping with a trend
The decision fits a wider pattern: Morocco recently overtook the Netherlands in the FIFA ranking, according to Goal.com. A symbol of the Atlas Lions’ progress on the international stage.
Other players have recently followed the same path: Abdellah Ouazane (Ajax) and Anass Salah-Eddine have also opted for Morocco. The sources, however, do not directly link Oufkir’s decision to that movement.
Now for the football
On the pitch, Oufkir arrives in fine form. On Sunday he played 90 minutes and scored in AZ Alkmaar’s 4-3 win over Groningen, according to Meemetoranje. A performance that comes at just the right time before he links up with the Atlas Lions.
The player is now in the Morocco squad for the matches against Niger on 13 and 17 November 2026.