The chief's surprise. Thursday afternoon, Didier Deschamps unveiled the list of bruises selected for the double confrontation in the 1/4 final of the League of Nations. And they were not 23 as expected, but 24. Indeed, DD decided to summon an additional player, namely Délé Doué. Author of a great first season in the Paris Saint-Germain jersey, the 19-year-old player is gaining momentum, he who has already scored 7 goals and delivered 11 assists in 38 appearances in all competitions. All this has not escaped the tricolor staff, who has repeatedly observed the former Stade Rennais. And everyone was convinced by their talent and qualities. As of Monday, he will therefore discover life with the French A team.
Gifted desired by France and Côte d'Ivoire
Before arriving there, he had gone through the U17 (17 games, 7 goals), U19 (12 games, 3 goals), U21 (4 games, 1 goal) and U23 (5 games, 2 goals) selections. He also defended the colors of the Olympic French team last summer during the Paris 2024 Olympics (5 matches, 1 goal). Called for years in French selection, Désiré Doué was also in the viewfinder of the Ivorian Football Federation in order to represent elephants, like his older brother Guéla (22, 6 selections, 1 goal with the A). Indeed, he holds Ivorian origins on the side of his father. At the start of the week, Emerse Faé, the coach of Côte d'Ivoire, was therefore still invited to express himself on the possibility of enlisting the binational footballer.
“To date, we have no categorical refusal of the different players who have several possibilities to be with us. You cited two (gifted and Malick Yalcouyé, editor's note). The list is very long regarding those with whom we exchange, we discuss, we share our project. Regarding the two cities, no, these are not players who refused the selection, but they did not agree to come either. We focus on those who are there. ” But his summons with France put an end to the debate. “Very happy, very happy. I was moved when I saw this. It's pride, we work on a daily basis. Thank you to the teammates, to the team. The matches that we all do together is what helps me to progress. Thanks to them, I am very happy ”also confessed gifted last night.
The elephants will not bring together the gifted brothers
On the side of Côte d'Ivoire, this news was talked about. Ivorian media Koaci wrote: “Convened to the French team, Désiré Doué has definitely turned her back on the elephants. The dream of seeing the brothers gifted under the colors of the elephants is broken. Hope was thin as to his choice to follow in the footsteps of his brother with the national selection of Côte d'Ivoire. And yet, the elephant coach, Emerse Faé, still kept hope of seeing the Parisian play with his brother, Guela gifted. But with its first summons to the Blues, Côte d'Ivoire will have to make a cross on the desired case gifted and compose with the still selectable players. ”
Ivorian connectionshe wrote: “Guéla Doué's younger brother will not follow the steps of his elder in the selection of Côte-d'Ivoire, country of origin of their father. Having evolved in the youth categories of the Blues, the Benjamin des Goué logically opted for the team of Didier Deschamps. ” However, there have been contacts between the player and the FIF, as the Ivorian journalist Stéphane Mafia explains to us. “There have been contacts, because the Ivorian coach, Emerse Faé,” confirmed it at a press conference. There have been steps so that Désiré Goué could evolve under the white and green orange tunic. He opted for France. “
A decision that divides
Same story for Malick Traoré, journalist for The new Ivorian chain. “There have been discussions for 2 years. It was a more than plausible track. Due to the status of Côte d'Ivoire today in Africa and the presence of Guela with elephants. The player thought about it strongly. But when you have done all your classes in France, it works with PSG, it weighs a lot in the scale. So yes Ivory Coast believed in it but also knew that it was a complicated file. His summons was not a surprise as you can imagine. So without resentment, everyone is happy for him and we are rather focused on the World Cup qualifications that start next week. Classified affair. “
For Stéphane Mafia, journalist at JTVthis decision has a very bitter taste. “I think that Côte d'Ivoire and FIF took the selection of Désiré Goué in the France team with a lot of regrets and disappointment. Each Ivorian and Ivorian, whether at the federation or in selection, dreamed of seeing good evolve under the white and green orange tunic. From a general point of view, everyone here is saddened. Each Ivorian has this feeling. We all believed it. There was this glimmer of hope so that he could evolve with elephants. The long -awaited hope is dead. He opted for France. “ Like Manu Koné or Wesley Fofana, Désiré Doué did not respond favorably to the call of the foot of Côte d'Ivoire. A nation that has other pretty talents in reserve.
