(Madagascar national team)

After qualifying for their first-ever Africa Cup of Nations, Madagascar Football Federation have started a process of inviting bi-national players for selection in a bid to build and strengthen their squad for a good outing at the 2019 AFCON in Cameroon.

About six players have been contacted by Madagascar's head coach Nicolas Dupuis, with three of them responding favourably to the Frenchman and one totally refusing the invite.

The latter is former France's under 23 shot-stopper and current Angers back-up goalkeeper Zacharie Boucher who stated his dream is to play for Les Bleus.

''I am French, I have never been from Madagascar. You can give a look at my passport, it is written "French "[...] I will never wear another shirt than the France's one," the 26 year-old said.

Olympique Lyonnais defender Jeremy Morel kindly accepted the call up. The polyvalent left back whose father was born in Madagascar is relished to play an international competition for the first time in his career.

He has played more than 500 topflight games in France, in the Ligue 2 and Ligue 1 with FC Lorient, Olympique de Marseille and Lyon.

(Jeremy Morel in action for Lyon.)

Two other players have also responded favourably to the invite, former Kilmarknock forward William Gros and Stade de Reims right-back Romain Métanire.

They even featured for the Bareas in the 2-2 home draw against Senegal in the continental qualifiers.

The two pending decisions awaited are from Ronny Rodelin evolving with Stade Malherbe de Caen and Stasbourg's Ludovic Ajorque.

Madagascar sit second in the Group A tied at 10 points with Senegal and will be hosting Sudan in their next African qualifying match.

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