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Marseille midfielder Mario Lemina has announced that he has decided to represent Gabon on international level.
The highly rated footballer, who is currently on loan with Italian champions Juventus, decided to switch his allegiance from France and play for his native country.
This comes as a major surprise given that Lemina not only won the Under-20 World Cup with Les Bleus two years ago, but also later rejected a Gabon call-up for the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations as he hoped to play for France on senior level.
Nevertheless, the 22-year-old has now changed his mind and admits he will soon be handed his debut for the Panthers.
“I chose Gabon, and I am very happy about it,” he told Radio Monte Carlo. “I have signed all the important papers and agreed with the federation.
“I am waiting for my first game with the national team, which had to be postponed as I was in the process of moving to Juventus. They understood, and I hope I will be able to play in Gabon’s next match.”
Gabon will host the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations and with Mario Lemina joining the likes of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Didier Ovono and Bruno Ecuele Manga, the Panthers will probably be able to mount a serious title challenge at the tournament finals.
