Bonny given eligibility to switch to Ivory Coast

Inter Milan forward Ange-Yoan Bonny has officially been cleared to switch his international allegiance from France to Ivory Coast, with FIFA approving the change on Friday.

The 22-year-old, who was born in the northern suburbs of Paris, qualifies for the Elephants through family ties. Under FIFA rules, players who have represented a country at youth level can switch once if they meet eligibility criteria and haven’t played a competitive senior game for that nation. The French Football Federation signed off on the switch, allowing FIFA to post the formal change.

Bonny progressed through France’s youth setup, most recently featuring for the U-21 side. He made two appearances for the “Little Blues” but didn’t score. Ivorian head coach Emerse Fae confirmed the agreement with Bonny back in March, though a dental issue kept him out of the March window to focus on recovery. “There is an agreement with Bonny; he has chosen to play for us,” Fae said at the time.

The approval comes at a key time for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations champions. Ivory Coast are drawn in a World Cup group with Germany, Ecuador, and Curaçao, with games set for Philadelphia and Toronto.

Bonny’s club form made him an attractive option. In his first season at Inter Milan after joining from Parma, he’s scored 7 goals and added 6 assists across all competitions. He featured in all 10 of Inter’s Champions League matches, starting 2 and registering 3 assists. At 177cm with a left foot and experience playing as a forward, Bonny adds pace, physical presence, and link-up play to an Ivorian attack looking to make an impact in North America.

The FIFA approval makes Bonny eligible for selection immediately. While it’s not confirmed if he’ll make the final World Cup squad, reports suggest he’s 80% likely to feature for the Elephants in the tournament. For Ivory Coast, it’s another dual-national coup as they build a squad capable of challenging on the world stage. For Bonny, it’s a chance to play senior international football at a World Cup, something that looked unlikely with France’s depth up front. If Bonny gets the call, he’ll be wearing orange instead of blue.