The Bordeaux winger had his first selection on November 13, during a play-off match for the World Cup lost to Nigeria (4-1 after extra time). This new call-up crowns the current form of the new international, author of the double which gave the Girondins victory against Dinan-Léhon on Saturday (2-0). “We appreciated his coming in November, we had even considered bringing him in October if he had not been injured,” explained the Gabonese coach. “He is a player who has a lot of qualities and we hope that he will one day be able to sign for a club that will allow him to progress higher” in the hierarchy of French football.
The selection of Royce Openda for the CAN will deprive him of the 32nd final of the Coupe de France at Le Puy on December 21. The Bordeaux striker should be back at the Girondins before the resumption of the N2 championship on January 10 at home against Bayonne, unless Gabon qualifies for the quarter-finals. But the task will not be easy for the Panthers who, during the group stage, will cross paths with Cameroon (December 24), Mozambique (December 28) and Ivory Coast (December 31).
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