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Mayssa Baha has confirmed she will represent Morocco, ending speculation over her international future despite interest from Spain and France.
The 15-year-old Barcelona forward was born in Spain and is eligible to play for France through her father, Nabil Baha. Her rapid rise at club level has attracted attention from both countries, particularly after she became the youngest goalscorer in Liga F history at the end of September.
Baha clarified her decision in an interview with the media office of the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF), expressing her commitment to the Moroccan national team and her pride at following in the footsteps of her family.
“It is a great honour,” Baha said of representing Morocco.
The teenager spoke warmly about the Moroccan shirt and the significance of joining a footballing family with strong links to the national team. Her father, a former Morocco international, is now coach of the Morocco under-23 side.
Her older brother, Ziyad Baha, is also part of the country’s football structure. The 17-year-old, who plays for OM, won the Africa Under-17 Cup last year and now features for Morocco’s under-20 side, known as the Lionceaux de l’Atlas.
Baha’s decision appears to close the door on both Spain and France. Spain, the country of her birth, had made sustained efforts to persuade her to choose them over Morocco, according to Futbol Marroqui 212.
She also spoke about her earliest experiences with football and revealed that her brother had been an important source of inspiration as she began playing the game.
The Barcelona player then reflected on Morocco’s 4-0 victory over New Zealand at the Women’s Under-17 World Cup, which is being held on home soil. The result provided another moment of celebration for Moroccan football as the country’s young players continued their campaign in front of their own supporters.
Baha said she would “do my best” to make Morocco’s fans proud.
After her father and brother, she now has the opportunity to begin writing her own story with the Rouge et Vert. Her decision gives Morocco another highly rated young player committed to its national-team pathway, while bringing an end to the international uncertainty surrounding the Barcelona prospect.