Mario Lemina Chooses Gabon Over France Ahead of Africa Cup of Nations
Mario Lemina has officially committed to representing Gabon at international level, ending speculation over his international future.
Last November, the Marseille midfielder revealed his initial hesitation to join the Gabonese national team, expressing a desire to continue his journey with the French Under-21s (Les Espoirs). “For now, my wish is to play for the French team. But I haven’t said no to Gabon either. It will depend on a lot of things, family… But for now, I’m giving everything for France,” Lemina said at the time.
However, the 22-year-old has now chosen to embrace his father’s homeland and has been named in Gabon’s final 23-man squad for the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations by coach Jorge Costa.
This decision marks a significant turning point in Lemina’s career, as he prepares to embark on a new chapter representing the Panthers on Africa’s biggest football stage. His inclusion in the squad underlines Gabon’s intent to field a strong and competitive side in the tournament hosted by Equatorial Guinea.
By opting to play for Gabon, Lemina will no longer be eligible to represent France, closing the door on his hopes of wearing the French Blue jersey at senior level.
The Franco-Gabonese midfielder’s switch reflects the growing trend of dual-nationality players choosing to represent their ancestral countries in major international competitions, bringing valuable European experience to African teams.
As Lemina gears up for the AFCON campaign, all eyes will be on his performances as he seeks to make an immediate impact for Gabon and establish himself as a key figure in the squad’s pursuit of continental success.
