Five goals and a return to your national squad for the first time in six years. It’s been quite a week for Vakoun Bayo.
The 27-year-old has been named by Ivory Coast national team coach Emerse Fae in his 25-man squad ahead of the final 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Zambia and Chad.
Bayo has two full international caps, but the last of those was back in October 2018 when he made a late substitute appearance against Central Africa in an AFCON qualifier.
In fact, his senior international career so far only adds up to 15 minutes, and with the last of his caps being so long ago, The Crow might have thought his chance of adding to that was over.
However, his six goals in 14 appearances this season (only nine of which were from the start) has caught the attention of Fae and he joins the likes of Manchester United’s Amad Diallo and Simon Adingra of Brighton in the squad.
“I’m really delighted for him and like I said at Sheffield Wednesday his work for the team and his work every day, he’s a real good role model for Jebbison and Doumbia,” said Tom Cleverley.
“His work hasn’t only been recognised by me, he’s been called up to the Ivory Coast squad and I am delighted for him. He is deserving his goals.
“The media and the supporters will always judge a striker on the goals they score, and rightly so.
“But the reason why he still played for those two months when he didn’t score was because of the job he does for the team.”
Often overly criticised by supporters, Bayo has stayed positive and never lost the faith of his head coach.
“His out of possession responsibilities, his hold-up, how good he is with his back to goal, and what a great character he is,” said Cleverley.
“They’re the reasons why he stays in the team even through dry spells.
“The five goals he’s scored in the last week he thoroughly deserves.
“We’re not getting carried away with ourselves, but I want him to enjoy his goals as it’s been a tough period for him with the lack of them in the last two months.”
