Rangers winger Mohamed Diomande finds himself in a unique position, receiving call-ups from both Ghana and Ivory Coast for their respective fixtures during the March international break.
Diomande, who has showcased impressive form at club level this season, earns a spot in Ivory Coast’s U-23 squad for their upcoming match against France, while Ghana includes him in their roster for friendlies against Nigeria and Uganda.
The 22-year-old midfielder faces a challenging decision regarding his international allegiance. Born in Yopougon, a suburb of Abidjan, Ivory Coast, Diomande is a full Ivorian citizen without any familial ties to Ghana.
However, his upbringing has largely been in Ghana, where he enrolled in the Right to Dream Academy at a young age before moving to Europe at age 16 to join Danish side Nordsjaelland.
The Mohamed Diomandé call from Ghana shouldn't surprise anyone.
Otto Addo, the new coach of Ghana (again), was the Assistant Coach at Nordsjaelland in the past, which is Diomandé's parent club (on loan @ Rangers).
That is a personal call, no doubt, to get him to play for Ghana.
— The International Window (@windowintlpod) March 17, 2024
The Ghana Football Association (GFA) is also believed to have conducted thorough due diligence on Diomande’s eligibility before calling him up for the friendly matches, clearing him to play for Ghana without any potential future issues.
Despite this, since the upcoming Ghana matches are not competitive fixtures, Diomande retains the option to play for Ivory Coast in the future if he desires.
Ultimately, the decision rests with Diomande. Will he choose to represent his native country at the U-23 level, awaiting a senior call-up, or will he opt to don the Ghanaian jersey straightaway at the senior level? Only time will reveal his choice.