Long targeted by Burkina Faso, Alban Lafont has now been called up by Côte d’Ivoire, the country he also traces his roots to.

Ahead of the upcoming 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Burundi and Gabon on September 5 and 9, Ivorian national team coach Emerse Faé has included Lafont in his 23-man squad, officially unveiled this Wednesday.

Previously called up just once by France without making an appearance (in September 2022), Lafont had been on Burkina Faso’s radar for several months. Born in Ouagadougou to a French father and a Burkinabè mother, the 1.96-meter-tall goalkeeper was also eligible to play for the Stallions.

His decision to represent Côte d’Ivoire came as a surprise to many. While some suspected he had Ivorian roots through his mother, questions remained as to how he qualified to wear the orange jersey.

His Great-Grandmother Was Ivorian

The mystery has now been clarified. According to L’Équipe, the new Panathinaikos goalkeeper—on loan from FC Nantes—derives his Ivorian nationality from his maternal grandfather’s mother, in other words, his great-grandmother.

The French sports daily also reports that the Ivorian Football Federation (FIF) had been tracking Lafont for several months. This aligns with earlier rumors of contact from Ivorian officials ahead of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.

Finally, Lafont’s close connection with coach Emerse Faé, who was based in Nantes until recently, is said to have played a role in tipping the scales.

Now set to compete with Yahia Fofana for the No. 1 spot, Lafont is expected to make his debut for the Elephants in the coming days.