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The Burkinabe are hoping to pull off a coup by capturing the 2019 Golden Boy nominee
Burkina Faso are reportedly making a bold move to recruit former France youth international Alban Lafont for their national team.
The 25-year-old FC Nantes goalkeeper has yet to feature for the French senior team, despite being called up in September 2022 as competition for the France goalkeeper spot increases.
Burkina Faso approach Lafont’s
Given his lack of opportunities with France, Burkina Faso has swooped in, hoping to lure the goalkeeper into switching allegiances.
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Born in the country’s capital, Ouagadougou, Lafont is eligible to represent Burkina Faso and according to reports, Burkina Faso’s head of recruitment, Aristide Bance, recently met with the Nantes goalkeeper’s entourage to discuss the possibility of a nationality switch.
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However, despite Burkina Faso’s advances, Lafont has not yet agreed to change his allegiance and his decision could depend on how he weighs his fading chances with France against the opportunity to play regularly on the international stage for Burkina Faso.
Lafont’s diminishing prospects with France
Once seen as a promising talent for France, Lafont’s path to the national team has been blocked by a strong crop of goalkeepers.
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While he was included in a France squad last year, he remains uncapped, and the rise of Mike Maignan as France’s first-choice goalkeeper, alongside Brice Samba and Didier Deschamps’ preference for Alphonse Areola as the third option, has significantly reduced Lafont’s chances of breaking through.
Additionally, younger prospects like Lucas Chevalier and Guillaume Restes are emerging as potential future stars for Les Bleus.
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Lafont, who has always prioritised representing France and has played 36 times across Les Bleus youth teams, now faces a tough decision as his international future remains uncertain.
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