Eli Junior Kroupi has ended the debate over his international allegiance by committing to represent France, closing the door on Ivory Coast and Portugal. The 20-year-old Bournemouth forward, who scored 13 Premier League goals last season, confirmed his goal is to play for his birth country. This announcement comes as the Elephants are on a recent run of one defeat in one match, having lost their latest outing.
The striker, born in Lorient, has already represented France at every youth level from under-16 to under-21. His father is former Ivory Coast international Eli Kroupi, while his mother and grandmother are Portuguese, opening a path to two other major football nations. Portugal coach Roberto Martinez had previously expressed interest in the player ahead of a training camp in March.
Kroupi was unequivocal about his intentions. "I have always played for France's youth teams, I was born in France and started playing football there, and I do not see myself playing for a national team belonging to a culture I do not know, so the French national team is my goal," he said.
The announcement comes as the Elephants look to regroup following a 1-0 defeat to Cameroon on October 3rd, their only recent outing. The next opportunity to bounce back is a home fixture against Gambia on Wednesday 11 November, a key match for the squad's momentum. It will be a chance to respond after a run of one match without a win.
The player's push for a senior France call-up is currently delayed by foot surgery, but his potential remains significant. Portugal have stated they respect his decision and consider the matter closed. For Ivory Coast, this news means missing out on a top-tier attacking option, a setback as they look to refresh their forward line, especially as the team must quickly move on from its latest defeat.
The original report is at thenigerianvoice.com
