Ebnoutalib’s treble intensifies Morocco’s striker selection dilemma

Younes Ebnoutalib scored all three of Eintracht Frankfurt’s goals in a 3-3 draw with Union Berlin, delivering a statement performance in front of Morocco manager Mohamed Ouahbi.

The 22-year-old centre-forward was making his second start of the season, having been named in the starting line-up for both of his side’s matches so far. He responded with a hat-trick as Eintracht Frankfurt began their German league campaign with a high-scoring draw at the Stadion An der Alten Forsterei.

Ouahbi was in attendance as part of his European tour, giving Ebnoutalib the perfect opportunity to strengthen his case for a place in Morocco’s squad ahead of the next international window.

Standing at 1.91m, Ebnoutalib made an immediate impact by scoring twice in the space of a minute during the first half. His goals in the 10th and 11th minutes first brought Eintracht Frankfurt level before putting them ahead.

He completed his treble in the 67th minute, restoring the Eagles’ advantage with a spectacular finish. Ebnoutalib took advantage of a favourable ricochet inside the penalty area, controlling the ball with a deft lob before unleashing a powerful strike into the goalkeeper’s bottom-left corner.

The performance follows an equally productive appearance in the cup last weekend, when Ebnoutalib scored once and provided an assist. He now has five attacking contributions in his opening two matches of the season across all competitions.

That form is likely to make him one of Morocco’s leading priorities, particularly because he is also eligible to represent Germany. Ebnoutalib had already increased the pressure on the national team’s decision-makers after being left out of Morocco’s squad for the 2026 World Cup.

His latest display adds another complication for Ouahbi as he prepares to name his squad for Morocco’s 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying matches against Gabon and Lesotho. The manager is facing increased competition in attack, with several other eligible forwards also making strong starts.

Yassir Zabiri scored a hat-trick for Racing Santander, while Abdellah Ouazane had impressed two days earlier by providing two assists for Ajax.

Ebnoutalib’s three-goal showing therefore arrives at a particularly significant moment for Morocco. Although his future at international level remains unresolved because of his eligibility for Germany, his recent form has ensured that his claims can no longer be overlooked.

The forward’s goals also came on a difficult evening for Eintracht Frankfurt, who were unable to convert his individual brilliance into victory after Union Berlin fought back to secure a 3-3 draw. Even so, the match gave Ouahbi a clear reminder of the attacking options available to Morocco as preparations begin for the 2027 qualifying campaign.