Abdul Ouattara’s October continues to improve. The Ipswich Town defender was handed his first senior call-up for Cote d’Ivoire by Hervé Renard, the same day he was named in the Premier League Goal of the Month shortlist.
The Elephants face The Gambia twice during the international break in Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, at home on November 12 and away on November 17. Ouattara will hope to win his first senior title in one of them.
It’s a big step up for a defender who has played his part in Ipswich Town’s first season since promotion from the Championship.
Why did Renard choose him now?
His form claimed. Ouattara was one of four players shortlisted for October’s player of the month in Ipswich, along with Daizen Maeda, Exequiel Palacios and eventual winner Julio Enciso, who won the supporters’ vote with more than 2,000 fans in attendance.
He participated again at the MKM Stadium last weekend. In the 2-2 draw at Hull City, Ouattara beat his man and slipped in Florentino Luis, who fired the opener into the roof of the net in the 22nd minute.
It was the Fulham goal that put him on the shortlist
Ouattara is one of eight players awarded the Premier League Goal of the Month award for October. His nomination came against Fulham when he cut down the right and found the bottom corner with his left foot from 25 yards.
Voting is now open and the winner will be announced on Friday, November 13, a day after his possible debut in Cote d’Ivoire.
Who else are Ipswich losing in the international break?
Ouattara is not alone. Dara O’Shea has been called up by the Republic of Ireland for their Nations League games away to Austria on November 14 and at home to Kosovo three days later. Sindre Walle Egeli joins the Norway U-21s for the matches against Poland and Portugal and has already scored seven goals in 13 games at this level.
Goalkeeper Christian Walton is also shortlisted for Save of the Month after stopping Brooke Norton-Cuffy late on in the same draw at Hull. It will be announced on November 13.
Before that, Ipswich host Bournemouth at Portman Road on Sunday at 2pm on Remembrance Sunday. The city was no longer there in January when the Asian Cup was pushed back a year, and Ouattara’s challenge is international news they will welcome.
A well-deserved award for Abdoul Ouattara
It feels earned, not lucky. A defender who can create goals at Hull and score against Fulham gives Ipswich a real end product from wide areas and Renard has clearly felt that.
The city’s only concern is travel. Two qualifiers in six days is a heavy load, so the hope at Portman Road will be that he returns with his first cap and fresh legs.