Just In: Odoi gets Black Stars call up for Nigeria clash

Club Brugge versatile player Denis Frimpong Odoi has been handed a debut invitation to the senior national team of Ghana for the 2022 FIFA World Cup final play-off games against Nigeria this month.

The 33-year-old has received his first-ever call-up to represent the West African nation for the crucial FIFA World Cup qualifiers against the Super Eagles following his exploits in the Belgian top-flight league.

Odoi described his invitation to represent Ghana as a surprise call-up because he had given up on international career after several attempts made by the Ghana Football Association (GFA) couldn’t materialized.

“I had already put away hope, but suddenly I got a phone call that the papers were in order.” Odoi told Belgian newspaper Het Nieuwsblad in an interview

“We’ve been working on this for years,” says Odoi. “The contact came when I was playing at Fulham. But the papers never got round, so I had already left that ambition behind me. But look: soon I will be international for the first time.”

“I was a bit surprised. These are two vital matches that we are going to play. I might even go to the World Cup. Do I feel like a real Ghanaian? We are not going to be stupid: I am of course more Belgian. But my father is from Ghana, so that’s part of me anyway. That is why I am proud to play for the national team.”

“I’ve heard that everything is very well organized. National teams in the African continent are often chaotic, but apparently that is not the case with Ghana.” the former Fulham star concluded.

Odoi was born to a Ghanaian father and a Belgian mother which makes him eligible to play for the four-time African champions despite playing for Belgium at the youth levels

He has scored one goal and provided an assist in his 9 appearances for Club Brugge KSV in the ongoing season.

He can operate as a central midfielder, defensive midfielder or a right-back.

Odoi previously had stints with Fulham FC, KSC Lokeren, Sint-Truidense VV, Oud-Heverlee Leuven and RSC Anderlecht.

Ghana will be battling out with their sworn-rivals Nigeria in a two-legged fixture of the 2022 FIFA World Cup final play-off round this month.

The Black Stars open camp on Monday to prepare for the March 25 and 29 home and away games with Nigeria to determine who qualifies for the Fifa World Cup in Qatar later this year.

-Kickgh