Zinedine Zidane set to hand France chance to Lens defender Ismailo Ganiou

Ismailo Ganiou is in line for a place in Zinedine Zidane’s first France squad, with the 21-year-old Lens defender having received a preliminary call-up ahead of the final list’s announcement on 18 September.

The provisional selection, reported by RMC Sport, follows a series of impressive performances by Ganiou for Lens. Zidane is understood to have been particularly impressed after watching him in person during the Champions Cup match against Paris Saint-Germain at Stade Bollaert.

Ganiou has continued to strengthen his case in recent weeks, including in his first appearance in the Champions League. He played a key role in Lens’ notable 3-2 away victory over Slavia Prague, producing a composed display and establishing himself as one of the French side’s most prominent defensive players.

A place in the senior France squad would represent a significant change in Ganiou’s international career. He previously appeared for Burkina Faso in a friendly in June 2025, but subsequently chose to represent France at senior level.

The Lens defender has also played twice for France Under-21s, with both appearances coming last March. He is now waiting to discover whether Zidane will hand him his first opportunity with the senior national team.

Ganiou is not the only Lens player being considered by Zidane. His team-mates Florian Thauvin and Mathieu Udol are also included in the preliminary plans, although both have already represented France.

That leaves Ganiou as the only one of the three without a senior appearance for Les Bleus, making his potential inclusion one of the main points of interest ahead of the squad announcement.