Moroccan national team coach Mohamed Ouahbi addressed Younes Ebnoutalib’s decision to represent Germany on Thursday, September 17, after the Eintracht Frankfurt striker had been eligible to play for the Atlas Lions.
The Morocco-German forward officially chose Germany on Thursday, September 17, despite being eligible to represent Morocco at international level.
Ebnoutalib has made a strong start to the season, scoring four goals and providing two assists in four appearances. He has been included in Jürgen Klopp’s squad for Nations League matches against the Netherlands in Amsterdam on September 24 and Greece in Augsburg three days later.
Speaking at a press conference, Morocco coach Mohamed Ouahbi discussed the player’s decision and the contacts that had taken place before it.
“We have been following him since last season,” the coach explained, adding that Ebnoutalib had been pre-selected during the national team camps in March and May. “He had an interesting profile for us,” Ouahbi added before providing more details.
“We went to watch him and I had a phone conversation with him, explaining Morocco’s project to him without promising him anything,” the coach said.
“The Morocco national team cannot be negotiated, it has to be earned. He would have deserved to be there. He chose Germany. The matter is closed. We are sixth in the world rankings and we are moving forward,” Ouahbi concluded.
AFP
