Ivorian-born player Gerard Goua Bi Gohou is now a Rwanda international. He made his debut in a friendly with the Amavubi against Equatorial Guinea. It was on September 23. Gohou had been selected with the Ivory Coast led at the time by Sabri Lamouchi. It was in 2013, as part of the 3rd day of qualifying for the 2014 World Cup. But he remained in the stand.
Gohou has therefore never played a minute with the Elephants, which facilitated his change of sporting nationality. "I'll be 34 soon and I still feel young. And it's not just Rwanda that has asked me. In the past, when I presented my Golden Shoe to the Ivorian Football Federation and even to the Ivorian television channels, so that we can follow the footballers playing in leagues with little media coverage, I had been contacted by Benin," he recalls.
How he was recruited by Rwanda
Gérard Goua Bi Gohou adds, "I refused to change my sporting nationality, because I still had hope of one day wearing the Elephants' jersey. But only God knows why it is now that he gives me the opportunity to play for a national team."
He reveals how he was drafted. "Regarding Rwanda, I was contacted by Carlos Ferrer (Editor's note: Current coach of Rwanda) who had trained me in the time with Kairat Almaty in Kazakhstan. I didn't take long to think about it. I joined directly the selection of Rwanda who trusts me and I hope we will be qualified for the AFCON 2023 in Côte d'Ivoire, "he explained to Sport-Ivoire.ci to justify his choice.
