“I am proud to represent Ivory Coast,” says Kader Meïte, standing by his decision

Born and raised in France, the young player explains that it is, above all, a question of identity and a connection to his roots.

Kader Meïte has decided to represent Ivory Coast on the international stage, ruling out any possibility of playing for France. When asked about his decision, the 18-year-old striker was forthright, stating that he had contacted the Ivorian Football Federation himself without any sporting guarantees.

I am proud to represent Ivory Coast. Ever since I was a child, I’ve had this character; I know what I want to do and I stand by it. I didn’t want to wait and see what might happen with the French team before joining Ivory Coast. I want to represent my parents’ country, my roots, and make my family proud. I made this decision without having had any contact whatsoever with the Ivorian Football Association; I simply rang them to let them know my decision. I have no guarantee of being called up to the senior team, and I haven’t sought one. I made this decision before the World Cup; it has nothing to do with the tournament.