Brighton & Hove Albion winger Simon Adingra recently disclosed that he had the opportunity to represent a different African national team instead of Ivory Coast. The 22-year-old, who plays as a left winger and is a rising star in the Premier League, shared this revelation in an interview with Affairage CI.
Adingra, who was named the best player and best young player at the last Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) where Ivory Coast emerged victorious, explained that he was once approached to join the Beninese national team.
“At one point, I was approached to join the Beninese selection. However, my father flatly refused. He advised me not to rush and to calmly follow my progress,” Adingra recounted.
Born in Yamoussoukro, Ivory Coast, Adingra spent a significant part of his youth at the ABIS Sport Academy in Benin from 2016 to 2020.
This made him eligible to request a change of sporting nationality and potentially represent Benin’s national team, the Cheetahs.
This situation mirrors the recent dilemma faced by Mohammed Diomandé, who ultimately chose to play for Ivory Coast over Ghana, despite having been trained in Ghana.
Adingra’s decision to stay with Ivory Coast has already paid off handsomely. He has become a key player for the Elephants and continues to make strides in his professional career.
Simon Adingra has quickly established himself in the Premier League, a notable achievement given the league’s competitive nature.
Despite not playing for one of the traditional top-tier clubs like Manchester City, Arsenal, or Chelsea, Adingra has been instrumental for Brighton & Hove Albion.
During the 2023-2024 season, Brighton finished 11th, with Adingra contributing significantly by scoring six goals and providing one assist in 31 appearances.
Adingra first came into the spotlight at FC Nordsjælland in Denmark during the 2021-2022 season, before making a name for himself at Union Saint-Gilloise in Belgium the following year.
His performances caught the eye of Premier League scouts, leading to his move to Brighton.
Emerse Faé, a coach who has closely followed Adingra’s career, once referred to him as “the future Ribéry,” highlighting the young winger’s potential and skill set.
As Adingra continues to develop and refine his game, he is poised to become a lasting presence in the Premier League, often regarded as the toughest football league in the world.
With a promising international career and a growing reputation in one of the world’s top leagues, Simon Adingra is set to leave a significant mark on football, both for Ivory Coast and in his club career.
His journey, marked by careful decisions and impressive performances, stands as a testament to his talent and potential for further growth.
💬 Simon Adingra🇨🇮 révèle qu’il aurait pu representer le Bénin :
« À un moment donné, 𝗷’𝗮𝗶 𝗲́𝘁𝗲́ 𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗰𝗵𝗲́ 𝗽𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲́𝗴𝗿𝗲𝗿 𝗹𝗮 𝘀𝗲́𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗯𝗲́𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗼𝗶𝘀𝗲 𝗱𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗼𝘁𝗯𝗮𝗹𝗹. Cependant, 𝗺𝗼𝗻 𝗽𝗲̀𝗿𝗲 𝗮 𝗿𝗲𝗳𝘂𝘀𝗲́… pic.twitter.com/QN0vqqZSar
— Joueurs Béninois 🇧🇯 (@JoueursBJ) June 24, 2024
