Ipswich Town Star Issa Diop Makes Club History With Morocco Call-Up

The centre-back has been selected for Morocco's opening two qualifying fixtures against Gabon and Lesotho, as well as a friendly against Ghana during the international break.

But this is more than just another international call-up for Diop.

The defender is set to become the first Ipswich Town player to represent Morocco, adding another historic milestone to his first season at Portman Road.

Diop set for Ipswich history

Diop joined Ipswich from Fulham during the summer on a long-term deal and arrived with considerable Premier League and international experience.

He has already won nine senior caps for Morocco and scored once for the national side.

Now, his latest selection gives Ipswich supporters another reason to take notice of the 29-year-old's growing importance.

Diop's Morocco involvement also comes after he represented his country at the 2026 World Cup, where Morocco reached the quarter-finals.

His international pedigree was one of the attractions of Ipswich's decision to bring him to Suffolk, with the defender expected to provide experience at the back following the club's return to the Premier League.

AFCON qualifiers create Ipswich headache

Morocco's qualifying schedule means Diop could be away from Ipswich during an important period of the domestic campaign.

The Atlas Lions will host Gabon in Rabat on September 25 before travelling to Bloemfontein to face Lesotho four days later.

Morocco will then meet Ghana in Tangier on October 4.

For Ipswich head coach Gary O'Neil, that creates a potential selection issue depending on Diop's involvement and his return schedule.

The defender has started the season as an important part of Ipswich's defensive plans, making four Premier League appearances so far.

Losing an established centre-back during a busy part of the campaign would therefore leave O'Neil having to manage his defensive options carefully.

A major opportunity for Diop

The international call-up is nevertheless a significant personal moment for Diop.

He only joined Ipswich in July after leaving Fulham, with the move giving him another opportunity to establish himself at Premier League level.

His Morocco selection shows that he remains firmly in the plans of head coach Mohamed Ouahbi following the World Cup.

It also gives Diop the chance to strengthen his position within a Morocco side beginning a new AFCON qualifying campaign.

The matches against Gabon and Lesotho will be particularly important as Morocco begin their route towards the 2027 tournament, which will be staged across Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda.

Ipswich will have to plan around international duty

For Ipswich, the news is both positive and potentially inconvenient.

Having a senior international defender is another indication of the quality and experience within O'Neil's squad, while Diop's involvement on the international stage can only add to his profile at Portman Road.

But the timing means Ipswich will need to monitor his workload and return closely.

The club have already invested heavily in strengthening their squad for Premier League football, and international absences are an unavoidable part of life at this level.

Diop's Morocco call-up makes Ipswich history.

Now O'Neil will have to make sure the historic achievement does not leave him short of defensive options when domestic football resumes.