Wolverhampton defender Willy Boly has been cleared to represent the Ivory Coast in the upcoming 2021 Africa Cup of Nations Qualifiers after approval from FIFA.
Bolly, 29, has developed into one of the leading defenders in the Premier League since helping Wolves to promotion in 2018 but has yet to feature for France, the country of his birth, at senior level.
After being capped at U-16, U-17 and U-19 level, Boly has now accepted a call-up from The Elephants, whom he is eligible to represent through his parents.
Africa Top Sports – Côte d’Ivoire : La Fédération dévoile la lettre qui autorise Willy Boly à jouer pour les Eléphants https://t.co/sz8WFPnjfR pic.twitter.com/2cr0wTwIY2
— Afropages (@Afropages) October 31, 2020
Patrice Beaumelle, their head coach who was the assistant to Herve Renard in their triumphant 2015 AFCON has looked toward securing binational players to increase their already impressive talent pool and Boly becomes a welcomed addition.
“The request of the FIF relating to the change of association of the player Willy Boly is accepted, writes the commission of the status of the player of FIFA,” Sport-Ivoire reports.
“The player, Willy-Arnaud Boly, is authorized to represent the representative teams of the Ivorian Football Federation with immediate effect.”
