Owusu Abeyie Applies To Change International Allegiance

Former Dutch youth international Quincy Owusu Abeyie has formally applied to FIFA to change his international status to allow him to play for Ghana, the West African country's football association said on Sunday.

The Spartak Moscow striker was born in the Netherlands but has dual nationality, one of the prerequisites for FIFA allowing a change.

Owusu Abeyie has been approached by Ghana to bolster their squad as they prepare for next year's hosting of the MTN Africa Cup of Nations and agreed to a possible switch, just months after repeatedly rejecting the idea.

He had first been approached before Ghana's participation in last year's World Cup finals in Germany.

The former Arsenal player, who played for the Dutch under-20 team when they hosted the 2005 World Youth Championships, turned 21 last month, the deadline for any player seeking to change his status if he wants to represent one country after playing for the junior representative teams of another.

It is not clear whether Owusu Abeyie's application to FIFA was submitted before April 15, the date of his 21st birthday.

Owusu Abeyie is one of seven cases FIFA are to rule on in “due course”, a FIFA spokesman said.

Morocco are seeking to obtain the services of former Norwegian international Karim Aoudia and Abdenour Amachaibou, the Borussia Dortmund teenager who has played at under-19 level for Germany.

Congo are seeking to use Lucien Abbey, who has previously represented French youth teams, although Abbey is already 22-years-old.

A change in FIFA statutes three years ago allows players who had represented one country at junior level to play for another country if they are entitled to dual nationality and aged under 21.