Sylvio Ouassiero Opts For Madagascar

Luxembourg-based defender Sylvio Ouassiero has opted to play for Madagascar after holding talks with the head coach Nicolas Dupois.

Ouassiero, born and bred in France to Malagasy parents, is eligible to play for Madagascar since he has never featured for the France national team.

Dupois, after meeting with the player, confirmed to reporters that the talks were successful and that Sylvio would make the squad in the upcoming 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Ivory Coast.

Even though FIFA is yet to receive Sylvio Ouassieero’s request for a switch of nationality, coach Dupois is confident of a swift approval by the game’s governing body.

“Ouassiero has agreed to play for his motherland,” the coach told L’Express de Madagascar on Monday.

“We are confident that his application for a switch of nationality will be approved before the game against Ivory Coast, and that’s why we will name him in the squad.”

Also expected to make his debut for the Bareas is striker Alexandre Ramalingom of Luxembourg side Vitron.

The 27-year-old, who holds a French passport, pledged his international future to his country of birth last year.

But he turned down a subsequent invitation to the national team, angry over how his call-up was handled.

Dupois met Ramalingom in Luxembourg in February and has agreed to play for the back-to-back Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Ivory Coast.