Soufiane El-Faouzi Chooses Morocco Amid Germany Interest
Schalke’s Siegen-born midfielder has committed his immediate international future to Morocco after being included in Mohamed Ouahbi’s 29-player squad for the September window, putting Germany’s interest on hold ahead of decisive Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.
Competitive fixtures could settle the eligibility question
The 24-year-old holds German and Moroccan citizenship and had remained eligible for both countries despite playing in Morocco’s 5-0 friendly victory over Burundi in May. That appearance did not bind him permanently at international level.
His place in Morocco’s latest selection changes the context. Germany had considered the Schalke player as a possible unexpected inclusion in Jürgen Klopp’s first squad, with the national-team staff monitoring his development since his move to Gelsenkirchen in summer 2025.
However, a competitive appearance for Morocco in the forthcoming qualifiers would tie him to the Atlas Lions under FIFA eligibility rules. The two AFCON qualifying matches therefore carry significance beyond Morocco’s results: they offer the midfielder a route to make a definitive international choice after becoming an important player for Schalke.
Morocco’s September schedule
- Morocco host Gabon in an AFCON qualifier on September 25.
- Ouahbi’s side travel to Lesotho four days later for another qualifying match.
- The window concludes with a friendly against Ghana on October 4 before players return to their clubs.
The Gabon and Lesotho games are the relevant fixtures in eligibility terms. If the Schalke playmaker features in either competitive match, his switch to Morocco would become permanent.
Ouahbi outlines Morocco’s approach to dual-national players
Ouahbi also addressed the contrasting decision of Eintracht Frankfurt forward Younes Ebnoutalib, who has opted to accept a Germany invitation after being watched by Morocco since last season.
The Morocco coach said he had spoken to the 23-year-old and encouraged him to consider the national-team project, while making clear that he had offered no assurances over selection. “The final decision was his personal choice,” Ouahbi said.
He added that Morocco’s position is not to pressure players with diaspora backgrounds into choosing the country. In his view, any player joining the squad must already be convinced by the project. Ouahbi said Ebnoutalib had selected the route he believed was right for him and that Morocco would continue its work.
Key takeaways
- Schalke’s 24-year-old midfielder is in Morocco’s 29-man group despite being born in Siegen and holding German citizenship.
- His May appearance against Burundi was a friendly, so it did not end his eligibility for Germany.
- A competitive appearance against Gabon or Lesotho would permanently bind him to Morocco.
- Germany had tracked the midfielder as a potential option for Klopp’s first national-team squad.
- Ebnoutalib has chosen Germany, while Morocco have accepted the Frankfurt striker’s decision.
