Today, the Royal Moroccan Football Federation announced that it has corresponded with the African Football Confederation (CAF) regarding the status of defender Issa Diop. The correspondence aims to inquire about the legality of Diop’s participation in the upcoming continental competitions for the Moroccan national team, following his receipt of two yellow cards during his recent participation in the 2026 World Cup finals held in the United States, Mexico, and Canada.
This proactive step by the Federation aims to ensure the legal clarity of the player’s status, especially as the national team prepares for crucial matches. Press reports have revealed that the Federation received a positive response from CAF, which firmly confirms the legality of Issa Diop’s participation in upcoming continental matches. The response clarified that penalties and disciplinary actions issued in World Cup tournaments do not extend to competitions organized by the African Confederation, as these sanctions apply solely within the scope of FIFA competitions.
Based on this clarification, national coach Mohamed Wahbi can rely on the services of Issa Diop in the starting lineup for the two upcoming matches against the Gabon and Lesotho national teams. These two matches are part of the qualifiers for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations, which will be held in Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda, thus enhancing the coach’s defensive options.
The national team is scheduled to host Gabon next Friday at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Sports Complex in Rabat, before traveling to South Africa to face Lesotho in the second round of qualifiers. The team will then return home to play a friendly match against Ghana on October 4th at the Grand Stade Ibn Battuta in Tangier, as part of preparations for upcoming competitions.
