Rayane Bounida Commits to Morocco, Ajax to Broadcast Youth Tournament
Ajax midfielder Rayane Bounida has officially completed his switch to represent Morocco internationally, whereas the club has announced plans to broadcast the Olympia Future Cup via its own channels.
Bounida Chooses Morocco
Rayane Bounida has informed the Belgian Football Federation of his decision to play for Morocco, according to reports from Belgian and Dutch press. Yabiladi confirmed the news on March 23, 2026. The decision follows discussions with the Belgian Federation, who attempted to persuade him to continue representing Belgium. Bounida, who has represented Belgium at the U16, U17, U18, U19 and U21 levels, has now received FIFA approval to switch his international allegiance. FIFA’s Change of Association Platform details the process for such transitions.
Olympia Future Cup Broadcast
Ajax will broadcast all matches of the Olympia Future Cup live on its own channels – Ajax.nl, the Ajax App, YouTube, and TikTok. Ajax announced this decision after ESPN ended its broadcast of the youth tournament. The tournament will take place at Sportpark de Toekomst from April 4-6. Ricardo van Rhijn will be among the analysts providing commentary during the broadcasts.
Other News from Ajax
Columnist Henk Spaan observed the performances of Wout Weghorst and Raheem Sterling, noting their flaws. Spaan also questioned whether Ajax has a dedicated set-piece specialist. Noa Lang expressed his enjoyment watching the play of Anis Hadj Moussa and Mika Godts, praising their willingness to take on opponents. Ajax will also play a friendly match against FC Volendam on Wednesday afternoon at 12:30 pm at Sports Complex De Toekomst.
Player Notes
Brian Brobbey stated he does not experience homesickness while playing in England, and a moment of silence will be held for Johan Cruijff during the Netherlands vs. Norway match on March 28, 2026, marking ten years since his passing. Ahmetcan Kaplan, currently on loan from Ajax to NEC, received praise from Bert Konterman for his performance in a difficult defensive system.