Moroccan-Norwegian footballer Osame Sahraoui has chosen to change his football allegiance to Morocco, the Norwegian football national team announced on Friday. «Osame Sahraoui has decided that he wants to represent Morocco in the future. We thank Osame for his efforts and wish him all the best», the Norway team wrote on X. The 23-year-old striker, who currently plays for Ligue 1 club Lille, had already played one international match for the Norway national football team. Sahraoui was included by Norway national coach Ståle Solbakken in the squad selected for the upcoming matches against Kazakhstan and Austria, but he declined. «It was a very difficult choice, because both Norway and Morocco are in my heart. The last few days have been intense, but after long discussions, I have made my decision», Sahraoui told the Norwegian federation's website. «This is not a choice for a club, but a choice for life. I know this was difficult for Osame. It was a great pleasure to have him with us, and we wish him much success for the future», Solbakken responded to Osame's choice. In August 2023, Sahraoui was summoned for the first time to represent the Norway senior national team, for a friendly match against Jordan. However, he did not play any further matches with the Norway national team due to injury.
