In a complete confusion surrounding his future in international selection, Mohamed Diomandé has broken his silence. Summoned by the Black Stars of Ghana while expected with the Ivorian U23 team, he shed light on his situation through a statement.
The 22-year-old midfielder, under contract with Scottish club Glasgow Rangers, has been gaining attention. Presented as a sure value in midfield, the Yopougon native faces a dilemma regarding his international career. Despite his Ivorian heritage, the young player holds Ghana close to his heart, where he was welcomed and trained for over seven years. A former student of the Right to Dream Academy, which also fostered Simon Adingra, Diomandé finds himself at a crossroads. In recent days, he has been torn between two countries: Côte d’Ivoire, with whom he has earned a selection with the U23 team, and the Ghanaian Black Stars. For this March break, the player, currently on loan at FC Nordsjælland in Denmark, received two call-ups: one with the Ghanaian senior team and the other with the Ivorian U23s. Eager to don a senior national team jersey quickly, Mohamed Diomandé chose to decline the U23 call-up and head towards his adopted country.
Diomandé’s Statement
However, after negotiations from the Ivorian side and a framework of the national team, Mohamed Diomandé also did not join Ghana, which awaited him with the plane ticket already sent. This Thursday, the player broke his silence to clarify matters on his Instagram account. “As a football enthusiast since childhood, my dream was to become a professional footballer and thus defend the colors of my country wherever I go and play for the national team. Today, I am truly grateful to Allah for achieving part of this dream; that of becoming a professional footballer. The other part remains; that of joining the national team and making my parents proud,” reads the post.
“Furthermore, I am equally aware of the interest shown by my adopted country Ghana, where I spent over 7 years of my life and football training. However, much has been said, but I am in direct contact with the leader concerned about my decision, and he holds the true information regarding my choice. I want to thank my club FC Rangers for their support, my family, and also all my fans during this time,” he concludes.
Diomandé’s Complex Situation
According to reports, Mohamed Diomandé will ultimately backtrack and await Emerse Fae’s call-up for Côte d’Ivoire. In any case, the resolution seems to be finally unfolding in this heated issue that has garnered much attention. Today, the big question is whether the call-up to the senior team will arrive for the Glasgow player, given the fierce competition in his position. As recently mentioned by NCI journalist Malick Traoré, choosing Ghana would not necessarily be a bad thing for the 22-year-old midfielder. This intervention was made on Wednesday, just before Diomandé’s statement was released on Thursday. We just have to wait and see what happens in the coming days for the Ivorian gem, who clearly remains attached to his bloodline. Careful consideration is needed in the final decision to avoid regrets in the future.
What are your thoughts on Diomandé’s statement? Should he return to the Elephants?
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