The full-back has been added to the list of players to face Nigeria in the playoffs this weekend at Baba Yara Sports Stadium
Ghana interim coach Otto Addo has handed Belgian-born defender of Ghanaian descent Denis Frimpong Odoi a late call up to face Nigeria in the first leg of 2022 Fifa World Cup playoffs holding on March 25 at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium in Kumasi, AshesGyamera.com can confirm.
The 33-year-old, who plays for Club Brugge in Belgium was a late inclusion into the squad as a back up to Reading defender Andy Yiadom who has constantly been chastised by Ghanaians for his average performance.
Odoi joins A.S Roma youngster Felix Afena-Gyan, Hearts of Oak defender Dennis Korsah, VFL Bochum forward Antwi Agyei as some of the new faces expected to have their debuts for Ghana against Nigeria.
Odoi was called up to the Belgium’s senior team for the first time in February 2011 but did not play for the rest of the year. However, he made his senior Belgian debut on May 25, 2012, starting the whole game, in a 2–2 draw against Montenegro but per new Fifa rules, he is still eligible to play for Ghana.
He is a close friend of Napoli and Belgium striker Dries Mertens, having known each other since they were both five.
However, at one point, Odoi revealed in the interview with The Guardian that he once tackled Mertens so seriously that he got “suspended from training for the rest of the week” and did not tell his parents, though it gave him “more time to do my homework.”
Growing up, Odoi watched Premier League and Serie A when he was a youngster and served to be an inspiration for him to play football.
In June 2017, Odoi married Katleen Thijs. Two years later, he became a father.
